This is my second post discussing the “5 Cs of Leadership” as I have learned to apply them. If this is the first of the “5 Cs of Leadership” you are seeing, I would suggest reading “Composed - The 1st C of Leadership”, then return here. There is not necessarily a chronological ordering or hierarchy to the “5 Cs of Leadership”, understanding them within the context of each other is very helpful.
The 2nd C of Leadership is “Confidence”. Merriam-Webster gives us these two definitions of this adjective:
Full of conviction: Certain
Having or showing assurance and self-reliance
There can be a fine line between confidence and being arrogant or displaying hubris. Most people know the difference when they see it but may not be able to put into words a good description. A confident leader is usually seen and heard bragging on the accomplishments of those around them. When we are confident it is unusual that we need to announce and advertise our own victories. A confident leader does not shy away from strengths, skills, knowledge, and successes however our focus when giving praise is to shine the light on others, the ones who did the hard work.
As confident leaders, we should also be grooming and developing the person who will be able to step up to be our future replacement. We should be seeking out key individuals who will mentor us. Confident leaders understanding they have much more to learn and are consistently seeking to gain more knowledge, insight, and wisdom. In confidence, we admit, own up to, and learn from mistakes and failures.
Did someone in our care have a failure, make a mistake, or miss a deadline? Our first question should be us asking ourselves, “Did I properly equip, train, and position them for success?” Another question should be, “What will it take for me to help them succeed next time?”
Confidence can be something akin to humility. What I mean is that if we are proclaiming to others that we are confident (or humble), it is likely that we are not. Confidence is something that wanes and waxes. There will be times when we do not feel confident. We may even feel like an imposter when filling a new role or position. When that happens, pay attention to your internal dialog. Are you listening to the doubt and lies your mind is trying to tell you, or are you going to tell yourself to keep moving forward and figure out how to get the job done?
I have plans to post my thoughts about “Imposter Syndrom” in the future.
In leadership, there are many dichotomies which play out. We need to be confident without arrogance, humble without being a pushover, take ownership of correcting mistakes and taking the blame while giving praise to others for accomplishments.