Leaders do not need to be perfect, but leadership must be authentic and connected to confidence to be truly effective, according to fastcompany.com.
When leaders offer cues indicating they lack self-confidence, it leads to team members who are uncertain about following a leader who does not trust himself or herself. And leaders who do not have confidence in their teams and rush to give advice or answers can foster unhealthy overdependence in direct reports.
Following are four signs you may lack self-confidence.
- Micromanagement. Micromanaging tells everyone you do not have confidence in yourself or your team. It can be overt or more subtle, such as trying to control a situation in some way. Micromanagement leads to intelligent and capable employees holding back great ideas, not taking initiative and not feeling invested in the organization or their work.
- Visible arrogance. An arrogant leader focuses on what is “wrong” with others or on anything that makes the leader look “right.” A leader who cannot let someone else shine, contribute or be right reveals his or her low confidence and disengages people.
- Bullying behavior. Some leaders use their position to make someone else feel bad so they can feel better or smarter. Bullying behaviors such as railroading, humiliation, threats, undermining and blame projecting are an obvious sign of lacking self-confidence.
- Wavering support. Leaders with low confidence may have trouble putting their full support behind ideas that might make another person look great but will support the same idea if it comes from someone with more power and influence. They also are less likely to ask the necessary questions to build out a good idea with an employee.
It is important to evaluate your level of confidence and authenticity and make changes if needed so your leadership truly can be an asset.
