Building Confidence to Lead Effectively

Leadership isn’t just about making decisions or hitting targets—it’s about showing up with the confidence to inspire, influence, and navigate challenges. The truth is, not every leader feels confident all the time. That’s okay. What matters is recognizing where you can grow, taking action to build your confidence, and staying consistent. Let’s talk about how to do that and the pitfalls to avoid.

The Confidence Gap in Leadership
A Forbes survey revealed a striking reality: 85% of people lack confidence. Even more surprising? When 18,000 executives and managers were surveyed, only 15% felt confident in their ability to lead. We’re not talking about arrogance or reckless risk-taking, but the belief in your ability to solve problems, influence others, achieve results, and handle tough moments. Confidence is a cornerstone of effective leadership, yet it’s a struggle for many.

Confidence Isn’t Fixed—It’s Built
Here’s the good news: confidence isn’t something you’re born with or stuck without. It’s a soft skill you can nurture. As leaders, we have a responsibility to grow our confidence because it’s the foundation for earning trust from our teams. If we don’t believe in ourselves, how can we expect others to believe in us—or for us to believe in them?

In Developing the Leader Within You 2.0, John Maxwell nails it: confidence is a leader’s greatest asset, and responsibility is their greatest weight. Our responsibility is to actively develop confidence through self-awareness, action, and persistence.

How to Build Your Leadership Confidence

• Increase Self-Awareness: Start by honestly assessing your strengths and areas for growth. Where do you feel less confident—public speaking, decision-making, conflict resolution? Pinpointing these areas is the first step to improving them.
• Take Action: Growth happens through doing. Seek opportunities to practice the skills you want to strengthen. For example, if influencing others is a weak spot, join a workshop or lead a new project to hone that skill.
• Stay Consistent: Confidence builds over time. Commit to regular reflection and skill-building. Soft skills development, like communication or emotional intelligence, has been shown to boost confidence and help leaders shine.

Confidence Killers to Avoid

• Ignoring Weaknesses: Strengthen yourself in areas that are holding you back. Pretending you’re confident in every area won’t cut it. Acknowledge where you need to grow and tackle it head-on.
• Comparing Yourself to Others: Focus on your progress, not someone else’s highlight reel.
• Avoiding Risks: Playing it safe stunts growth. Take calculated risks to stretch your abilities and build resilience.

The Bottom Line
Confidence isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for effective leadership. By increasing your self-awareness, taking action, and staying consistent, you can transform into a leader who not only believes in themselves but inspires others to do the same. Your teams, your results, and your organization will thank you.

Join us June 13th to further your leadership confidence at the 2025 LeadershipLegacy Experience with Dove Development & Consulting. This is a mid-Atlantic event happening in Harrisonburg, VA at the Atlantic Union Bank Center. Check out the details now...our wrap-up keynote speaker is none other than Mark Cole, CEO of Maxwell Leadership!