Build Your Confidence

One of the most important traits any person can possess in life to help them be successful is personal confidence.  When we have a high level of confidence, we believe we can set the direction of our lives and be successful no matter the opposition that may come our way.  Building self-confidence takes time but can be developed.  If we struggle with self-confidence, we are not alone.  Below are three ways to build our self-confidence. 

1.  Make a list of Strengths

All of us have strengths and weaknesses.  Whether we are naturally gifted at something or have developed it through practice and experience, we all have strengths we rely on.  Think about what you excel at and write it down.  What are some significant accomplishments in your life and how did you achieve them?  Writing down a list of strengths, reviewing it frequently, and adding to it as time passes will build self-confidence.      

2. Ask for Feedback

If you are struggling to make your own list of strengths or even if you have a good list going, ask trusted family members and friends to list some of the strengths they have seen in you.  Their input can prove invaluable in helping you further recognize your strengths and can provide ideas on where you can grow even stronger.  Positive feedback from those you love and trust will build your confidence.

3. Stay Positive

Finally, positive thoughts and feelings go a long way in building self-confidence.  When you find yourself having negative thoughts and feelings, change your behavior.  Don’t let mistakes or failures get you down but quickly learn from them and move on.  When we learn to control our thoughts, we can quickly begin to build confidence.  Do not allow yourself to tear your confidence down through negativity.  Stay positive, especially about yourself!

As we do these three simple things our confidence will begin to develop and grow.  As our confidence expands, our ability to be successful, influence others, and reach our potential will also increase.  I know that we need to build our confidence to be our best and I know if we commit to it, each of us can strengthen our own self-confidence.            

How to Become a Level 5 Leader

Recently I heard an audio clip from Jim Collins discussing Level 5 leadership from his book Good to Great.  (If you recall, Level 5 leaders are unique as they possess the two seemingly contrasting traits of personal humility and a strong professional will.)  In the discussion, Collins talks about how one can develop and become a Level 5 leader which so many seem to be unable to do.  Anyway, I really liked what he said and thought I should share it because I think it is powerful for us as we strive to become great leaders and great people. 

To become Level 5 leaders Collins said is like walking down a road and you come to a fork.  Your head and often your heart are telling you to go right because it is the most attractive path for you personally.  You can see that going right will be the less painful, the most self-aggrandizing, the most beneficial for your personal interest, etc. but instead you step left.  Left is more beneficial for others and for the “greater good”.  The more leaders can choose left when they are being pulled right, the more they become Level 5 leaders. 

Level 5 leaders and Level 5 people are unique because it is very hard to “step left” and put our own personal interest and ambitions behind us and sacrifice our personal gains for the good of the whole.  Though difficult in the moment, I think “stepping left” leads to great success and happiness in life.  And in fact, Collins proves this in his book. 

As you can imagine, the first few times stepping left will be very difficult but after a while, for true Level 5 leaders, “stepping left” becomes an easy decision and almost habitual in nature.  When the entire world turns right, Level 5 leaders step left. 

As we are faced with forks in the road, let’s not automatically go right.  Let’s analyze the whole picture, look further down the road, and more often “step left” even when everything else is pulling us right. When we do this, we start our path on becoming Level 5.