Confidence comes from taking action – one step at a time
Confidence is a topic that frequently comes up in my coaching and mentoring sessions. Many colleagues express their concerns, believing they lack confidence.
My perspective has always been that confidence is not something we either have or don’t have—it is something we build. The key to developing confidence lies in taking initiative and embracing opportunities, even when we feel uncertain. Here are a few steps to cultivate confidence:
- Take more chances—do it anyway. Growth happens outside of your comfort zone.
- Embrace mistakes as learning opportunities. Do it, make mistakes, learn from them, and move forward.
- Treat failures as events, not as personal flaws. A setback does not define you; it refines you.
- Stop waiting for the perfect moment. It will never arise. You just have to start.
- Understand that you will never be 100% prepared. Preparation is an ongoing journey, and opportunities often arrive unannounced.
I still remember an experience nearly 20 years ago, during my first managerial role. On my very first day, I was unexpectedly asked to be the emcee for an event with over 1,000 attendees. I had never done anything like it before, and I made a few initial blunders. Yet, to my surprise, the audience thought I was a great emcee! No one knew it was my first time—except me. Later, when I shared the story, they were astonished.
That’s how confidence is built—not by waiting for the perfect moment, but by stepping up, taking action, and learning along the way.