Message of the Day - The Roaring Lion within YOU

Good Morning,

 

Welcome new recipients!

 

I am back to reading “Credibility” by James Kouzes and Barry Posner, and have come across a section on self-confidence. The authors detail how competence, the ability and knowledge on how to do something is different from self-confidence, which is the belief in self that one can do something that they actually know how to do.

 

Confidence, like everything else has its place in our lives. Too much as well as too little is dangerous. The balance to strive for is matching your knowledge and skills to your belief in yourself that you can use your knowledge and skill. People who are too confident believe they can do more or know more than they actually do in a particular situation. People with too little confidence are the opposite and do not feel they have as much knowledge and skill as they truly do.

 

In “Credibility” the authors list four steps for building self confidence: Mastery, Observation of others, Encouragement and Stress.

 

Mastery is reinforcing what you already know. It is the way we get to Carnegie Hall: Practice, Practice Practice. As you get nail down your knowledge and skill, your confidence will improve as you can do the task in your sleep.

 

Observation of Others is seeing others doing the same task or activity and seeing the outcome. When you see others succeed, you help yourself see that you too can do the task, assuming you have the right knowledge and skill. By seeing others, you reduce your own level of stress and improve your own confidence. If they can do it, so can I.

 

Encouragement is powerful. When others believe in you or need you, your super powers come into play. Encouragement could be a cheering section yelling out “You can Do it!!” or it could be your clarity and focus giving you your drive and energy. When you feel encouraged by others, whether by their support or your desire to do for them (e.g., I must do this for my kids), you improve your confidence.

 

Stress is a wildcard. We have stress, and we have more of it every day as the world becomes faster and smaller. Personal problems, finances, and other factors come to beef up our stress. The more stressed we are, the less we are ourselves. I remember being so stressed out one time that I was acting nearly robotic just to get through the day, because most of my attention was on the stressful situations. By finding ways to reduce stress, you in fact improve your self confidence.

 

Let the roaring lion within you out by building your confidence. See if any of these steps helps you.

 

Enjoy!

 

Sanford Berenberg

Sanford@berenberg.net

http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/

502-533-9336

 

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