I attended a virtual session recently where the question is “why do you do what you do?”. The truth is my answer has evolved over time. As a practitioner, I started speaking at conferences to find alternative sources/ways to engage. I needed a place where it wasn’t about my team, but where I could shine a bit. I am human after all.
I really don’t know when that stopped being the reason but I know that at some point it became about paying forward what I had gained from others. I wanted to share and help others learn and grow the way people had influenced me.
I think there is still some of that motivating me today but the main focus is now bigger. I want to have confidence in others, maybe before they have it in themselves. I want to support people.
Often, people live up or down to what you expect. If you want people to succeed, they need to feel supported.
Supporting people doesn’t mean doing it for them. Nor investing a ridiculous amount of time to help them every step along the way. What I’m talking about is demonstrating that you have confidence in their intelligence, abilities, and character. That you believe, truly believe, that they are capable of figuring out how to move forward. That you are sharing your journey, including the painful moments, to help someone not feel so alone. That you are acknowledging humanity and emotions during this journey – for yourself and others. That you don’t view success as perfection but their willingness to grow and learn. That if you can do this, they can be even better.
How do you demonstrate confidence in people?
