As a leadership coach, I work with many individuals that want to build their confidence. Many people feel immense tension between who they want to be and the fear that holds them back from becoming it. Whether it’s becoming a better presenter, being bolder in meetings, or stepping out further than they ever have, we all need confidence. 

Leadership confidence is key to success. The greater your confidence, the more successful you will become. 

Here’s the secret to building confidence:

The secret to building confidence is…there is no secret. There is no silver bullet that magically kills your fears and frees you to be courageous. Instead, confidence building is simply walking through a series of variables that will help you in the long run. And the sooner you can start, the sooner you will grow your confidence.  

Let me share with you what I call The Confidence Formula: 

CE/T (O) = C

Consistent effort, over time, multiplied by opportunity, equals confidence 

Let’s break it down:

Consistent Effort 

If you are going to build your confidence, it starts with effort. You have to put yourself out there and simply try. If you are unwilling to take the first step, you can’t take any after that. Confidence requires you to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Remember, all growth takes place outside the comfort zone. If you only do things you’re comfortable doing, you’ll never grow your abilities. It is in the tension of pushing ourselves that we grow into our potential. The more we consistently put the effort in, the more confidence we will get out of it.  

Over Time

Remember, no one starts out completely confident. You start with fear and trembling and then slowly move into slightly comfortable and begin to move into confidence. You don’t wake up one day with a full tank of confidence; you grow into it as you put forth consistent effort over time. We don’t become confident then step out, we step out, and confidence starts to fill us. When we get going, the confidence starts flowing. Be patient with the consistent effort you’re putting in, and let time do its work.     

Multiplied By Opportunity 

The more opportunity you say yes to, the more chances you have to build your confidence. Avoiding opportunities to challenge yourself only delays your confidence growth. Every time you turn down an opportunity to work your confidence muscle, you are simply weakening it. Don’t wait for an opportunity to come your way; go after it. If you want to expedite your confidence ability, seek out things that will push you to do something you have never done.  

• Don’t be afraid to speak up in a meeting, even if you fumble through it. You need to get through the fumbling process to get more confident. 
• Don’t be afraid to make that presentation, even if you are terrified of speaking in front of others. You need to face your fears head-on to overcome them. 
• Don’t be afraid to take on that project, even if you think you’re not ready. You need to get the experience to grow confident. 

Let me share with you The No Confidence Formula:

CA/T (AO) = NC

Consistent apathy, over time, multiplied by avoiding opportunity, equals no confidence.

It’s not about one big win, but the sum of your efforts consistently applied over time. When you get comfortable with the idea that success results from many small opportunities seized, you open yourself up to new possibilities and have greater confidence in your ability to lead. So keep putting in the hard work, stay focused on opportunity, and be bold when it comes to seizing chances for growth. Confidence will follow.