We looked at an overview of confidence recently, so let me pose this question before we get started: How is your confidence today? In thinking about today’s post, I’m reminded of an old Seinfeld episode where Elaine is put in charge of the J. Peterman Catalog. For her first issue, she put the Urban Sombrero on the cover. Later, she is in Jerry’s apartment and he asks, “How’s your confidence?” Elaine responds, “Shot.”
Before that day, Elaine had been supremely confident she was ready to run the catalog; so where did she go wrong? Or did she really make a mistake and in fact, she was actually right to be confident. Let’s take a look.
In Scott W. Ventrella’s book The Power of Positive Thinking in Business confidence is defined as “being personally assured of one’s abilities, capabilities, and potential.”
As people, we are confident because we trust ourselves. We all know how important trust is to our interpersonal relationships, but rarely do we look at the role trust and confidence play in our intrapersonal lives.
In teams, if your fellow teammates are missing deadlines, or lacking in certain skills, your confidence in them lowers. It’s just a fact of life and business.
But this is about you! Why are you confident? If you agree that we are confident because we believe we can accomplish certain tasks or at least have the right training to find the correct path, then you understand confidence and the role it has in your life.
One final question: How often do you give yourself a compliment? How about negative re-enforcement? I bet it is easier to think of the latter. In Ventrella’s book, he writes about the need to focus on our past successes and what led to success, and not the past failures and mistakes. We need to build ourselves up and having confidence in your abilities is a vitally important factor in your personal and professional success. If you don’t have confidence in yourself, how can anyone else?
I will venture to say that Elaine was right in having confidence in her ability to lead the catalog. She still got it out on time, just with the wrong cover. She had the abilities and her first experience at running the catalog, although negative at the moment, can lead to a great learning experience which will only aid her confidence. It is the same with you.
Confidence can carry you through your struggles. Next week we’ll look at where confidence comes from, so until then, say something positive to yourself. Build up your confidence and trust in yourself.
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Awesome article Alan. I cant agree more. having confidence in ourselves is an important part of our who. We need to have it always, to ensure living our best.
Lynn:)