Confidence

Confidence is one of the most important qualities we can have if we are to succeed. It empowers us to step out of our comfort zone and be open to new ideas and try new things. With confidence, we become more resilient, i.e., we gain the ability to bounce back in the face of failure or criticism. It encourages us to become more self-aware and seek feedback so we may improve. It also allows us to speak up and convey our thoughts, opinions, and feelings clearly and assertively. For leaders, it is a sine qua non – their confidence inspires trust and motivates others to follow.

So when a friend suggested I listen to a podcast interview on how we can learn to be confident, I was intrigued. From this podcast’s notes, I learned that Prof. Ian Robertson, a neuroscientist at the University of Texas, Dallas, talks about the science of confidence and how it positively influences our mind and body.

Here are a few points in this 52-minutes-long wonderful and illuminating interview that stood out for me:

• Confidence is a trait any of us can develop. It is different from optimism or hope (a belief that things will turn out well) and self-esteem (an evaluation or audit of yourself). Confidence is linked to the action systems of the brain – it makes you do things.
• Confidence can be seen as a bridge having two elements: Can Do (the belief that we can do something) and Can Happen (the belief that if we do that something, the outcome we want will or may happen). When we visualize these two elements, our brain’s reward network is activated and our dopamine levels rise. This has 4 effects: Dopamine acts as a natural anti-depressant. It is a natural anti-anxiety drug. It affects your brain’s pre-frontal cortex making you a little smarter. And you are more likely to take action.
• Studies show that children who have a childhood filled with only comfort and success are not able to cope with the anxiety they feel when they face a challenge in the workplace. Adversity in one’s early years works like an “emotional vaccination”.
• ‘Imposter Syndrome’, the self-doubt that even high-achieving people have of their intellect, skills or achievement, is normal. In small amounts, it is evidence of a healthy relationship with confidence and success. The opposite of this, over-confidence, can lead to an unwillingness to accept feedback, underestimating risks and poor decisions. (This can also lead to strained relationships when others find such behaviour off-putting.)
• There are a few habits we can develop to build confidence:
  • Decide what you are paying attention to. Noticing positive reactions and thinking of positive outcomes activates the reward systems in the brain. It biases your mind and memory towards success.
  • Examine your attitude towards yourself. Can you develop a growth mindset? Asking why when faced with failure instead of giving up helps you learn, stay positive and move forward.
  • Notice your posture. Standing tall will make you feel better, while making yourself small depletes your confidence.
  • Avoid seeking reassurance with words like, “I am probably mistaken but” or “This is probably rubbish but.” Such words may reduce your anxiety temporarily but devalue what you want to say, undermine your confidence in yourself and undermine other people’s confidence in you.
  • Take deep breaths – this reduces the levels of norepinephrine in your body that causes anxiety and interferes with cognitive performance.

I have shared only a few of the many things I learned from this interview. Do listen to it to learn more from Ian Robertson on this fascinating topic.

On a personal note, I have always thought that confidence and clarity go together. When it becomes totally clear to me that something needs to be done, I have found the confidence to go ahead. What are your thoughts on confidence? How have you built your confidence? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.

A little trivia: The image you see above is of Rosie the Riveter, an iconic symbol of American women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II, particularly in roles traditionally held by men. This image is from a poster created by J. Howard Miller in 1943 and came with the caption, "We can do it!".