Why Confidence Matters

Idara Ogunsaju, The Antorge Group, LLC

July 23, 2023

I have the distinct honor of being invited to be a part of a back-to-school program for middle-schoolers this summer.  I will be talking with them about self-confidence.  Preparing for this program has given me the opportunity to revisit the basics of confidence, why confidence matters, and why I wrote The Confidence Talk. 

This summary from kidshealth.org neatly captures the essence of why confidence matters:

Confidence helps us feel ready for life's experiences. When we're confident, we're more likely to move forward with people and opportunities — not back away from them.

And if things don't work out at first, confidence helps us try again.

With confidence you feel ready, you’re more likely to move forward and not back way, and if it doesn’t work out, confidence is what helps you try again.  The opposite is also true when confidence is low.  This is why guarding and cultivating your confidence is important.

We tend to live our lives without necessarily calling it and yet we know instinctively that confidence matters.  Here’s more on why, and how cultivating confidence can help unlock your full potential:

Self-belief: When you believe in your abilities and strengths, you are more likely to set ambitious goals and to pursue them with determination.  Confidence allows you to step outside of your comfort zone, embrace new opportunities, persevere, overcome obstacles, and ultimately attain higher levels of achievement.

Positive outlook and emotional well-being: When you have confidence, you tend to focus on your strengths and what you can do.  Being able to focus on what’s possible enhances your emotional well-being and your resilience.  This positive outlook helps you navigate setbacks and failures, recognizing that they do not define you. 

Effective communication and influence: People are naturally drawn to confident individuals as they exude credibility and authority.  Confidence plays a significant role in effective communication – expressing your thoughts and ideas with clarity and conviction allowing you to inspire and influence others. This is particularly beneficial in professional and career settings.

Leadership and taking initiative: Confidence is essential in leadership roles and even for taking the initiative to step into a leadership role.  Confidence enables you to trust your judgement and make decisions without requiring constant reassurance from others (reassurance, not to confused with getting input).  Confident leaders are more likely to inspire and motivate their teams.  By demonstrating confidence, you become a catalyst for change and innovation – both necessary for businesses.

Building resilience and overcoming fear: Confidence acts as a buffer from the paralyzing aspects of fear and doubt allowing you to move forward with people and opportunities.  By developing confidence, you build resilience and learn to see failure as another lesson learned, a stepping-stone towards success. Confidence allows you to face your fears head-on, transforming them into opportunities for self-improvement and growth – both personal and professional.

Enhancing personal and professional relationships: Confidence positively impacts your relationships with others by allowing you to assert yourself, set boundaries, and express your needs effectively. By valuing yourself and your contributions, you attract healthier relationships and surround yourself with supportive individuals who uplift and inspire you. Confidence strengthens interpersonal connections, fosters collaboration, and opens doors to new opportunities.

Confidence is an invaluable asset that can significantly shape our experiences and outcomes. Key to cultivating confidence is recognizing circumstances that have a deleterious effect on your self-confidence and addressing them promptly.  By cultivating confidence, you recognize and embrace your abilities, continue to advance, and most importantly you retain the ability to enjoy your achievements.