I titled my blog with the quote by Marcus Garvey, journalist, entrepreneur, political and economic activist, to highlight how important confidence is for someone’s success.

Confidence is like the fuel that propels anyone forward in personal and professional life. Confidence builds these characteristics: decision-making skills, influence and motivation, resilience, risk-taking, credibility, and charisma.

You may say why confident people tend to make decisions more decisively and rapidly? Because confidence helps them to trust their own judgement and act promptly. That type of act also inspires trust and reassurance in others. More importantly, confidence allows them to naturally influence and persuade others, lending a sense of credibility and persuasiveness to their style of communication.

Confident people often automatically instill trust in whoever chooses to work with them, whether that be their family members, friends, peers, subordinates, stakeholders, investors, clients, etc., as it showcases them as someone who knows what they are doing and able to navigate any uncertainty.

As I mention in my book, The Business Caring Formula. Building Your New Leadership Lifestyle, “You have to be courageous and bold in your actions by going beyond what you think you can achieve!” By challenging yourself to always be the most confident version you can be, you automatically exude and extend that energy to people around you.

Confidence is contagious. When leaders in the organizations exude confidence, it helps their teams to believe in their vision, encourages them to work towards shared goals. It is also imperative that the team sees the example set by the leader, and thus is encouraged to also strive for success. By boosting team morale, you as a leader is then able to remain resilient in the face of challenges and setbacks, all while having your team support you. Instead of being discouraged by obstacles, your confidence allows you to see these as opportunities for growth, learning, and widening your horizons beyond what you are already familiar with.  Moreover, confident leaders often exude charisma and presence, commanding attention, and respect from those around them. Charisma is a powerful tool, as you can use it to rally support and build strong relationships with those around you.

One of the most important traits that can come from you having confidence in both your work life and your personal life is the ability to take calculated risks. That confidence enables you to step out of your comfort zone and pursue innovative ideas or strategies, without hiding behind the fears of ‘what-ifs’. The business world is already harsh in it of itself, and effective management does not hold place for timidity or second-guessing yourself. As a Harvard Business Review article states, “Very few people succeed in business without a degree of confidence”.

You can possess all the other qualities that makes a great leader, but without confidence, those other qualities do not shine and come through. Confidence is essential for everyone and especially for leaders, as it not only enhances your own effectiveness, but also positively impacts the performance and morale of their teams, leading to a somewhat domino effect of success within both the workspace and your own personal daily life. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there” quote by Theodore Roosevelt on success, confirms again that it comes to those who believe in their abilities and build trust.

How to become a confident individual and confident professional:

1. Exercise internal positive reinforcement to help boost your self-esteem.
2. Know your strengths.
3. Set achievable goals that align with your interests, abilities, and your strengths. Breaking down larger goals into smaller, manageable steps can make you feel more attainable and build confidence as you progress.
4. Become a role model by actions, offering support and mentorship to others.
5. Learn to cope with setbacks and failures positively. Encourage yourself to view challenges as opportunities for growth rather than insurmountable obstacles.
6. Promote your self-expression: Encourage yourself to express yourself freely and share your ideas and opinions at different settings. This will help to replace your self-doubt with self-affirming statements.
7. Seize opportunities for success: Identify and seize opportunities to experience learning, success and achievement. Whether it’s through business, entrepreneurship, academic, extracurricular, or personal endeavors, success breeds confidence.
8. Develop risk-taking mindset: Encourage yourself to step out of your comfort zones and take healthy risks. Note that failure is a natural part of learning and growth, and that taking risks can lead to valuable experiences and new opportunities.
9. Lead by example: Demonstrate confidence in your own actions and decisions. By modeling confident behavior, you show others that confidence is attainable and something worth striving for.

By implementing these strategies, you can help yourself and the younger generation develop the confidence to navigate life’s challenges and pursue your and their goals with courage and determination. In conclusion, I would like to bring the quote from Peter T. McIntyre “Confidence comes not from always being right, but from not fearing to be wrong.”