Confidence Busters and Builders

Confidence and competence: both are essential to our success as leaders. A person can be really good at what they do in part because they are so confident in their abilities and in their plan to move forward.

On the other hand, you can take a person who shares the same level of competence – they have the same skills and strengths – but they lack the confidence. This lack of confidence will limit what they accomplish. (more…)

“I can’t do what they do.”

I can’t do what they do. It’s a statement many of us learn in grade school and carry with us throughout our lives. We can spend hours lamenting as to why we don’t have the same talents and abilities as our teammates.

It’s true we can’t do what they do (at least not everything and not in the same way), but why should we?

In sports, it’s the unique skills and abilities of individual athletes that give a team its talent. The same is true in business. Think about what you (and only you) bring to your team:

• Your background and experiences
• Your education (formal and informal)
• Your “raising” (how you grew up)
• What you learned from your first boss and past colleagues
• Your values and beliefs
• Your natural strengths and talents

All of these things give you a unique perspective and a unique role on your team. So stop worrying about who you’re not. It’s too hard to try to be like someone else for a long period of time.

Start being who you are. Being yourself is easy, and your teammates will like you better because you’re authentic and you’re not trying so hard. Focus on adding value to your team and your work by applying the very things that make you “you.”

What entices you to pick up the book? The title or the pages inside?
What’s the best part of the book? The title or the pages inside?
What determines if you read the book? The title or the pages inside?
What advances your life? The title or the pages inside the book?

What entices you to do business with a person? Their title or their performance?
What’s the best part of doing business with a person? Their title or their performance?
What determines if you trust a person’s competence? Their title or their performance?
What brings you value from a person? Their title or their performance?

Titles: A Love-Hate Relationship

Yes, I’m serious, and you may already know where I’m going with this controversial subject on the almighty “title.” (more…)