Self-Confidence and Self-Confidence and LeadershipLeadership

What is Self-Confidence?What is Self-Confidence?

The concept of self-confidence is The concept of self-confidence is related to self-assuredness in personal related to self-assuredness in personal judgment, ability and power.judgment, ability and power.

An attitude that allows people to have An attitude that allows people to have positive views of themselves and their positive views of themselves and their situation.situation.

Self-Confidence is the fundamental Self-Confidence is the fundamental basis from which leadership grows basis from which leadership grows (Dao, (Dao, 2008).2008).

What is Self-Confidence? What is Self-Confidence? (continued)(continued)

Self-confidence also indicates whether Self-confidence also indicates whether you are self-assured in your decisions, you are self-assured in your decisions, ideas, and capabilities.ideas, and capabilities.

Self confidence influences individual Self confidence influences individual goals, efforts, and frustration tolerance.goals, efforts, and frustration tolerance.

(Grodnitzky, 2005)(Grodnitzky, 2005)

Why Does a Leader Need Why Does a Leader Need Self-Confidence?Self-Confidence?

Self-Confidence = Effectiveness as a LeaderSelf-Confidence = Effectiveness as a Leader

A leader must use self-confidence to A leader must use self-confidence to gain the trust of followers.gain the trust of followers.

Self-confidence is important for Self-confidence is important for decision-making.decision-making.

A leader must be able to admit fault.A leader must be able to admit fault. Self-confidence is important in Self-confidence is important in

reference to emotional stability.reference to emotional stability. Has to be able to communicate wellHas to be able to communicate well

Why Does a Leader Need Why Does a Leader Need Self-Confidence? Self-Confidence? (continued)(continued)

““Self-confidence is needed to withstand Self-confidence is needed to withstand

setbacks, preserve through hard times, setbacks, preserve through hard times,

and lead others in new directions. and lead others in new directions.

Confidence gives effective leaders the Confidence gives effective leaders the

ability to make hard decisions and to ability to make hard decisions and to

stand by them” stand by them” (Wren, 1995)(Wren, 1995)

Attributes of a Self-Confident Attributes of a Self-Confident LeaderLeader

AssertiveAssertive OptimisticOptimistic EnthusiasticEnthusiastic AffectionateAffectionate TrustworthyTrustworthy Has a sense of PrideHas a sense of Pride IndependentIndependent Emotionally MatureEmotionally Mature Able to handle criticismAble to handle criticism Risk-takerRisk-taker

Important Facts:Important Facts:

Self-confidence is learned.Self-confidence is learned. Self-confidence is not general.Self-confidence is not general. Self-Confidence is not constant.Self-Confidence is not constant. Self-confidence is primarily situational-Self-confidence is primarily situational-

not absolutenot absolute

Examples of Self-Confident Examples of Self-Confident Leaders: Past and PresentLeaders: Past and Present

John Baptist De La SalleJohn Baptist De La Salle: devoted his : devoted his life to build a Christian environment to life to build a Christian environment to educate poor childreneducate poor children

John F. KennedyJohn F. Kennedy: 35: 35thth president of the president of the U.S. who was influential in Foreign U.S. who was influential in Foreign Policy and Civil RightsPolicy and Civil Rights

Oprah WinfreyOprah Winfrey: noted an the most : noted an the most influential woman in the worldinfluential woman in the world

Bill GatesBill Gates: entrepreneur and founder of : entrepreneur and founder of MicrosoftMicrosoft

Why is Self-Confidence Important Why is Self-Confidence Important In Leadership?In Leadership?

Improve social-interactionImprove social-interaction Inspires confidence in othersInspires confidence in others Attaining goalsAttaining goals HappinessHappiness

Leaders That Lack Leaders That Lack Self-Confidence:Self-Confidence:

Are less likely to influence followersAre less likely to influence followers Leaders will not take on difficult tasksLeaders will not take on difficult tasks More likely to break under pressureMore likely to break under pressure Followers will be uninspiredFollowers will be uninspired Overall leaders will find it difficult to Overall leaders will find it difficult to

become successful or effectivebecome successful or effective

Dealing with Past “Failures” and Dealing with Past “Failures” and Low Self-ConfidenceLow Self-Confidence

““Failures” are not failing, but simply Failures” are not failing, but simply

understanding that you did not reach understanding that you did not reach

your goal. your goal. Putting yourself and your skills down is Putting yourself and your skills down is

highly unproductive and dysfunctional highly unproductive and dysfunctional

to yourself and your team.to yourself and your team.

Failures Failures (Continued)(Continued)Never use the word Never use the word FAILUREFAILURE

Instead, Instead,

1.1. Describe what you Describe what you did and did not did and did not accomplishaccomplish

2.2. Accept ALL Accept ALL outcomesoutcomes

3.3. Ask what you learned Ask what you learned from the situationfrom the situation

4.4. Ask if your goals and Ask if your goals and expectations are expectations are realisticrealistic

Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln

Lost every election Lost every election

until he finally went until he finally went

to the Senate and to the Senate and

then ran for then ran for

President and WON. President and WON. Now remembered Now remembered

as one of the most as one of the most

CONFIDENT leaders. CONFIDENT leaders.

7 Steps to Boost Your Leadership 7 Steps to Boost Your Leadership Self-ConfidenceSelf-Confidence

1.1. Decide if you really want to be a Decide if you really want to be a

leader.leader.

2. Make peace with ambiguity in decision 2. Make peace with ambiguity in decision

making.making.

3. Gather a reasonable amount of data, 3. Gather a reasonable amount of data,

involve people, then follow your gut involve people, then follow your gut

and do what you think is best.and do what you think is best.

7 Steps7 Steps (Continued)(Continued)

4. Accept the fact that you are going 4. Accept the fact that you are going

to FAIL on occasions. All humans to FAIL on occasions. All humans

do. do.

5. Once you make a decision, commit 5. Once you make a decision, commit

and go for it.and go for it.

More of the 7 StepsMore of the 7 Steps

6. Demonstrate courage on 6. Demonstrate courage on

the outside, even when the outside, even when

you don’t feel it on the you don’t feel it on the

inside. inside.

7. Have FUN!7. Have FUN!

(Goldsmith2010)(Goldsmith2010)

Quotes to Inspire Self-Confident Quotes to Inspire Self-Confident LeadersLeaders

““Self-confidence is knowing that we Self-confidence is knowing that we have the capacity to do something have the capacity to do something good and firmly decide not to give good and firmly decide not to give up.”-Dalai Lamaup.”-Dalai Lama

““Fear stops you in your tracks. Self Fear stops you in your tracks. Self confidence propels you forward.”-confidence propels you forward.”-UnknownUnknown

ReferencesReferences

Bayshore, Zach. (2010). Bayshore, Zach. (2010). Importance of Self-Importance of Self-ConfidenceConfidence. . http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/3-21-2006-91547.asp..

Bohl, David. (2009). Bohl, David. (2009). Five Great Leaders of Our Time Five Great Leaders of Our Time and What We Can Learn From Themand What We Can Learn From Them. . http://www.slowdownfast.com/five-great-leaders-of-our-time-and-what-we-can-learn-from-them/..

Dao, Francisco. (2008). Dao, Francisco. (2008). Without Confidence, There Without Confidence, There is No Leadershipis No Leadership. . http://www.inc.com/resources/leadership/articles/http://www.inc.com/resources/leadership/articles/20080301/dao.html.20080301/dao.html.

ReferencesReferences

Farrington, Jonathan. (2007). Farrington, Jonathan. (2007). Of Courage And Self-Of Courage And Self-Confidence [Leadership Turn]Confidence [Leadership Turn]. Newstex LLC: Web . Newstex LLC: Web Blogs. Blogs. http://www.lexisnexis.comezproxy.lewisu.edu.http://www.lexisnexis.comezproxy.lewisu.edu.

Goldsmith, Marshall. (2008). 7 Steps to Boost Your Goldsmith, Marshall. (2008). 7 Steps to Boost Your Leadership Self-Confidence. Leadership Self-Confidence.

http://blogs.hbr.org/goldsmith/http://blogs.hbr.org/goldsmith/2008/05/7_steps_to_boost_your_leadersh.html.2008/05/7_steps_to_boost_your_leadersh.html.

Grodnitzky, Gustavo. (2005). Grodnitzky, Gustavo. (2005). Self-Confidence As An Self-Confidence As An Effective Leadership TraitEffective Leadership Trait. . http://www.drgustavo.com/LTP/Issu24.pdf. http://www.drgustavo.com/LTP/Issu24.pdf.

Marcus, Bonnie. (2010). Marcus, Bonnie. (2010). What Does it Take to Be a What Does it Take to Be a Thought Leader?Thought Leader?. Newstex LLC: Web Blogs. . Newstex LLC: Web Blogs. http://www.Lexisnexis.comezproxy.lewisu.edu. http://www.Lexisnexis.comezproxy.lewisu.edu.

ReferencesReferencesOlson, Barbara Jean. (2010). Inspirational Quotes-Olson, Barbara Jean. (2010). Inspirational Quotes-

Leadership Quotes.Leadership Quotes.http://www.inspirational-quotations.com/leadership-http://www.inspirational-quotations.com/leadership-

quotes.html.quotes.html.Scheller, Stephanie. (2010). Scheller, Stephanie. (2010). Why Is Self-Confidence Why Is Self-Confidence

Important?Important?. . http://www.ehow.com/about_5054518_self-http://www.ehow.com/about_5054518_self-confidence-important.html. confidence-important.html.

Sihera, Elaine. (2010). Sihera, Elaine. (2010). The Definition of ConfidenceThe Definition of Confidence. . http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Definition-of-http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Definition-of-Confidence&id=4550884.Confidence&id=4550884.

Stevens, Dr. Tom G. (2010). Stevens, Dr. Tom G. (2010). You Can Choose To Be You Can Choose To Be Happy.Happy.

http://www.csulb.edu/~tstevens/h54confi.htm.http://www.csulb.edu/~tstevens/h54confi.htm.

ReferencesReferencesWren, J. Thomas. (1995). Wren, J. Thomas. (1995). The Leader’s Companion: The Leader’s Companion:

Insights on Leadership Through the AgesInsights on Leadership Through the Ages. The Free . The Free Press: New York.Press: New York.

Building Self-ConfidenceBuilding Self-Confidence. (2010). Mind Tools, Ltd. . (2010). Mind Tools, Ltd. http://www.mindtools.com/selfconf.html. http://www.mindtools.com/selfconf.html.

Self-ConfidenceSelf-Confidence. (2010). Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. . (2010). Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-confidence. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-confidence.