Small Acts of Leadership

Chapter 2 Build Confidence

Confidence. That elusive je ne sais quoi. Like art, we know it when we see it, and we know it when we feel it. The thing is, confidence isn’t summoned on demand from the heavens. Confidence isn’t brought on by clenching our fists. So how do we achieve and sustain it?

We don’t work in a vacuum, and mutual trust and confidence are at the core of successful teams. And building and maintaining confidence is not always easy; it often requires individual acts of courage. And while assuming the best in others is important to the process, obstacles—including stress-inducing bosses—can present challenges. But, if we are persistent, we can overcome many of these.

Sources of True Confidence

The world is full of people ...