Self-belief, also increasingly known as self-efficacy, is the belief in our own ability to complete tasks and achieve our goals.
For this reason, it’s a cornerstone of effective leadership. It is vital for navigating the daily uncertainty and risks that come with leadership responsibilities.
One of the elements of self-belief is our inner dialogue. A strong, positive inner voice will mean we have more personal power. But we must continually train our minds if we are to counter the natural tendency toward self-criticism, and the achievement of this is called resilience.
Cultivating self-belief, through empathy, listening, and personal development strategies, can transform your leadership style and will result in a more supportive workplace.
Building self-belief as a leader
It may be true to say we are finally becoming used to change. But that doesn’t mean we find it comfortable. In fact, during this age of seemingly continual and considerable change, our self-belief is tested more often than ever.
And it becomes a more critical leadership attribute. When leaders trust in their abilities, they are more likely to take calculated risks that can lead to significant advancements. On the flip side, a lack of self-belief can result in hesitation and missed opportunities.
The first step is for us to acknowledge that uncertainty is a natural part of leadership. It’s important that we bust a myth at this point: self-belief is NOT the same as self-confidence. We need as much belief as we can muster but too much confidence could result in a fixed mindset attitude, where we feel we do not need to continue to grow and adapt.
Our inner voice needs to be strong but tempered with the ability to listen and consider alternative opinions and viewpoints.
The growth, rather than fixed, mindset that comes with strong self-belief enables us to make more informed and courageous decisions, ultimately building a more resilient and innovative team.
Cultivating a strong inner voice
A strong inner voice is essential for good self-belief and effective leadership.
Our inner dialogue has the power to uplift or undermine our confidence. It is therefore something we should continually train and cultivate so that it has a positive impact on us and our performance.
There are lots of ways to achieve a positive inner voice, each of which could warrant its own blog, but in summary you can:
- Identify negative self-talk – tune in and notice when you criticise yourself or doubt your abilities;
- Challenge negative thoughts – question the validity of these thoughts – are they based on fact or assumption? Replace them with more balanced statements rooted in fact;
- Use positive reinforcements – affirmations are all about building good habits. Reminding yourself daily that you are strong, capable or that you deserve success will eventually change your mindset;
- Consider your inner circle – Jim Rohn said ‘you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with’ and this is such an important thing to remember. Spend time with positive radiator types instead of negative drains;
- Visualise success – what does success look and feel like for you? The richer a picture you can create, the more likely you are to believe and achieve it. Some people create images in their mind’s eye, other create vision boards. Choose whatever works for you.
Making it stick
The most important part of strengthening your self-belief is to create a habit of being positive. It takes time and can be frustrating – our subconscious minds are strong and persistent and attuned to the negative – but working with a coach can help keep you accountable.
Coaching is also useful when it comes to questioning some of the limiting beliefs you do have. Being able to speak them aloud, hear how they sound in the reality of the present, and work through where they might stem from is the fast-track way to busting myths and moving on to positivity.