Confidence; more than silencing self-doubt
Jun 20, 2024
Confidence in leadership isn't just about projecting outward authority; it's about genuinely feeling capable and prepared. Many leaders, however, struggle with internal self-doubt and negative self-talk, which can undermine our effectiveness. When we feel uncomfortable or out of our depth how can we cultivate true confidence through positive self-talk and transform our internal dialogue into empowering, cheerleading narratives.
When it comes to leadership, confidence is our belief in our ability to lead effectively. It involves trust in our decision-making processes, communication skills, and capability to achieve our goals. True confidence is reflected not only in our external actions but also in our internal dialogues—how we as leaders talk to and about ourselves in our thoughts.
Really start to take notice of your self-talk and you will realise how much it impacts your self-belief. Self-talk significantly influences our confidence. It acts as our internal narrative that either reinforces or undermines our belief in our leadership ability.
Which self-talk do you listen to?
Positive Self-Talk: This consists of affirmations and constructive reflections that reinforce a leader’s belief in their capabilities, enhancing their confidence. For example, thoughts like "I am capable of handling this challenge," or "I have successfully navigated similar situations before."
Negative Self-Talk: Focuses on personal shortcomings and doubts, which can erode confidence. This includes thoughts such as "I don’t think I’m the right person for this," or "I always do that, mess things up."
Its easy to brush off our positive self-talk, and give the credit to everyone else around us. When it comes to negative self-talk the opposite is true. We recognise it immediately and believe it instantly.
Do this quick exercise, on a piece of paper write down two columns, the first one is what your negative self-talk sounds like and the second one what your positive self-talk sounds like. I bet the first column is easier to fill out.
If you want to build confidence, start with recognising your negative patterns.
The first step to building genuine confidence is to recognise and address your negative self-talk. By becoming aware of our harmful and unhelpful patterns, we can begin to challenge and change these thoughts. For instance, every time we think, "I shouldn’t be here," ask yourself, "Why do I feel this way?" and actively counteract this thought with evidence of your achievements and capabilities. Give yourself the proof as to why you are there.
We can all be more confident, what it takes is a conscious shift to positive self-talk.
We can train ourselves to shift from automatic negative thoughts to more constructive, supportive and empowering dialogues. This shift doesn’t just silence our doubts; it builds a foundation of real confidence based on self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-improvement.
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