What sort of Confidence?
As we emerge from the rubble of the credit crunch tsunami and look around in a bit of a daze wondering what to do next there is an important question we leaders needs to consider: How do we re-establish that key ingredient of performance: confidence?
Arising from some recent work I have started to notice two distinct sources of confidence. Confidence can be drawn from an appraisal or reappraisal of the environment or established in an individual, team or organisation through a sense of control /power or influence. And within both these sources there can be important differences.
With appraisal-based confidence people are trying to understand better the current situation. Or perhaps not! One version I have come across is undoubtedly ‘Ostrich’ confidence – people or organisations in a collective act of denial and showing an unwillingness to explore what is going on! A much more useful activity is to pursue a confidence based on insight - a deliberate positive search for the emergence of specific and perhaps novel sources of value in the future to which an organisation can tie future success. The world has undoubtedly changed and the fact of this will create new opportunities for the confident operator.
Leaders can also work to enhance confidence based upon factors they can more directly control. Firstly individuals and organisations can develop ‘dominance’. This is by building the leverage by which they can shape the future through greater levels of ‘owned’ capability, competence, influence, differentiation etc. Secondly, often associated with this, is the collaboration confidence that comes from feeling supported by others whether that be through strategic partnerships or personal relationships.
My thinking is that, putting ‘Ostrich’ confidence to one side, now is the time that leaders should be rigorously looking at these other sources of confidence and looking to build and enhance them all. Through this, as we emerge from the rubble, we can pursuit a better future with vigour and momentum.
A thought piece by Steve Carter September 2009
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