Self-Confidence and Leadership

1. Self-Confidence and Leadership

2. What is Self-Confidence? The concept of self-confidence is related to self-assuredness in personal judgment, ability and power. An attitude that allows people to have positive views of themselves and their situation. Self-Confidence is the fundamental basis from which leadership grows (Dao, 2008).

3. What is Self-Confidence? (continued) Self-confidence also indicates whether you are self-assured in your decisions, ideas, and capabilities. Self confidence influences individual goals, efforts, and frustration tolerance. (Grodnitzky, 2005)

4. Why Does a Leader Need Self-Confidence? Self-Confidence = Effectiveness as a Leader A leader must use self-confidence to gain the trust of followers. Self-confidence is important for decision-making. A leader must be able to admit fault. Self-confidence is important in reference to emotional stability. Has to be able to communicate well

5. Why Does a Leader Need Self-Confidence? (continued) “Self-confidence is needed to withstand setbacks, preserve through hard times, and lead others in new directions. Confidence gives effective leaders the ability to make hard decisions and to stand by them” (Wren, 1995)

6. Attributes of a Self-Confident Leader Assertive Optimistic Enthusiastic Affectionate Trustworthy Has a sense of Pride Independent Emotionally Mature Able to handle criticism Risk-taker

7. Important Facts: Self-confidence is learned. Self-confidence is not general. Self-Confidence is not constant. Self-confidence is primarily situational-not absolute

8. Examples of Self-Confident Leaders: Past and Present John Baptist De La Salle: devoted his life to build a Christian environment to educate poor children John F. Kennedy: 35th president of the U.S. who was influential in Foreign Policy and Civil Rights Oprah Winfrey: noted an the most influential woman in the world Bill Gates: entrepreneur and founder of Microsoft

9. Why is Self-Confidence Important In Leadership? Improve social-interaction Inspires confidence in others Attaining goals Happiness

10. Leaders That Lack Self-Confidence: Are less likely to influence followers Leaders will not take on difficult tasks More likely to break under pressure Followers will be uninspired Overall leaders will find it difficult to become successful or effective

11. Dealing with Past “Failures” and Low Self-Confidence “Failures” are not failing, but simply understanding that you did not reach your goal. Putting yourself and your skills down is highly unproductive and dysfunctional to yourself and your team.

12. Failures (Continued) Never use the word FAILURE • Instead, • Describe what you did and did not accomplish • Accept ALL outcomes • Ask what you learned from the situation • Ask if your goals and expectations are realistic

13. Abraham Lincoln Lost every election until he finally went to the Senate and then ran for President and WON. Now remembered as one of the most CONFIDENT leaders.

14. 7 Steps to Boost Your Leadership Self-Confidence 1. Decide if you really want to be a leader. 2. Make peace with ambiguity in decision making. 3. Gather a reasonable amount of data, involve people, then follow your gut and do what you think is best.

15. 7 Steps(Continued) 4. Accept the fact that you are going to FAIL on occasions. All humans do. 5. Once you make a decision, commit and go for it.

16. More of the 7 Steps 6. Demonstrate courage on the outside, even when you don’t feel it on the inside. 7. Have FUN! (Goldsmith2010)

17. “Self-confidence is knowing that we have the capacity to do something good and firmly decide not to give up.”-Dalai Lama “Fear stops you in your tracks. Self confidence propels you forward.”-Unknown Quotes to Inspire Self-Confident Leaders

18. References Bayshore, Zach. (2010). Importance of Self-Confidence. http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/3-21-2006-91547.asp. Bohl, David. (2009). Five Great Leaders of Our Time and 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). Without Confidence, There is No Leadership. http://www.inc.com/resources/leadership/articles/20080301/dao.html.

19. References Farrington, Jonathan. (2007). Of Courage And Self-Confidence [Leadership Turn]. Newstex LLC: Web Blogs. http://www.lexisnexis.comezproxy.lewisu.edu. Goldsmith, Marshall. (2008). 7 Steps to Boost Your Leadership Self-Confidence. http://blogs.hbr.org/goldsmith/2008/05/7_steps_to_boost_your_leadersh.html. Grodnitzky, Gustavo. (2005). Self-Confidence As An Effective Leadership Trait. http://www.drgustavo.com/LTP/Issu24.pdf. Marcus, Bonnie. (2010). What Does it Take to Be a Thought Leader?. Newstex LLC: Web Blogs. http://www.Lexisnexis.comezproxy.lewisu.edu.

20. References Olson, Barbara Jean. (2010). Inspirational Quotes-Leadership Quotes. http://www.inspirational-quotations.com/leadership-quotes.html. Scheller, Stephanie. (2010). Why Is Self-Confidence Important?. http://www.ehow.com/about_5054518_self-confidence-important.html. Sihera, Elaine. (2010). The Definition of Confidence. http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Definition-of-Confidence&id=4550884. Stevens, Dr. Tom G. (2010). You Can Choose To Be Happy. http://www.csulb.edu/~tstevens/h54confi.htm.

21. References Wren, J. Thomas. (1995). The Leader’s Companion: Insights on Leadership Through the Ages. The Free Press: New York. Building Self-Confidence. (2010). Mind Tools, Ltd. http://www.mindtools.com/selfconf.html. Self-Confidence. (2010). Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-confidence.