I just saw a post that echoes what my coach told me about confidence a few years ago.
“Confidence is not a requirement. It’s a result.”
The idea is that the only way you get confidence is by doing something over and over.
It is certainly true as someone gets better at something their confidence increases. But what about when you really need to do something that you aren’t good at? Or that you are doing for the first time?
Founders are constantly doing this. Creating strategies that they have never executed on. Making decisions with about 10 percent of the information they need.
Most of the time they have no idea if what they are trying will work.
If You Don’t Have Confidence, Then What?
This week I was on Ryan Munsey’s Move The Chains podcast talking about confidence, and clarity, and all kinds of other things that leaders need to move the chains (it’s an American football reference—the consistent forward motion that you need to win the game).
You don’t need confidence to do the thing. If you’re afraid, you can still do it. Make the phone call, have the conversation.
But where are you coming from in having that conversation?
Two Levels Beyond Confidence
What no one tells you is what’s just on the other side of confidence.
Boredom.
I want an accountant who has filed a thousand tax returns. I want a surgeon who has done the procedure 10,000 times.
But as an entrepreneur, I don’t want to ever do something 10,000 times. Nor do my clients.
So if none of us is ever going to get to that level of task confidence, how do we lead?
How do we feel the fear and do it anyway?
- Commitment. If I’m not confident, I may choose not to do something. To reconsider. To analyze the data one more time. But if I am committed, I must do it. Even if I am only committed to a process. I might not be confident in my ability yet, but I can be confident that if I commit to a process I will get better and better. That the only way to get better, in fact, is to commit to a period of doing it badly. To commit to a process of improvement.
- Certainty. At an even deeper level, you can operate from a place of certainty. That you have the innate ability to figure it out. That, in the words of an entrepreneur friend of mine (and upcoming podcast guest), “I didn’t come this far to have the universe drop me on my ass.”
You’re At the Door of the Plane
You’ve checked your chute (and your backup).
Do you jump, or not?
Of course you’re afraid. The fear is the sign you’re ready.
If you’re committed, if you’re certain, you jump. Despite the fear.
No, actually because of those things.
You can be committed and certain even if you don’t know exactly how things are going to work out.
The same holds true for your team.
They want you to lead them. Your commitment and certainty are a perfect filter. If they are inspired, they are your people. If not, kindly say goodbye and find someone who is.
What Are You Committed To?
What’s the thing you are willing to work at until it works out? What’s the thing you know, deep in your soul, is going to work out, even if you don’t know how?
Share in the comments.
Pick Now Podcast, Coming Soon!
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