The Neuroscience of Leadership Confidence
Leadership confidence is the foundational belief in oneself, serving as the cornerstone of high performance leadership. It marks the starting point on our journey to self-awareness, enabling us to recognize our individuality and the distinctive value we bring. Our leadership confidence forms the bedrock upon which we build the character and capacity to guide self so that we may guide and inspire others.
Now, let's break it down. Number one, leadership confidence is a belief, specifically in oneself and in what one can create. With this firm belief, we gain the ability to recognize when things align or don't align. This recognition enables us to take actions as leaders, externally in how we build, guide, and inspire others.
Second, our belief and recognition internally shapes how we lead others. This is why confidence is our starting point. If we get this right, we can evolve into presence, influence, and impact. It all starts with our core beliefs and actions.
We Can Grow It!
The good news is confidence isn't fixed; it can be learned and influenced by thoughts, emotions, and actions. This is where understanding neuroscience comes in. It helps us understand why we believe what we believe and how emotions impact our ability to lead. Confidence can grow, as we pay attention to it. It can also be broken down if neglected. Our goal is to foster a leadership mindset focused on continuously growing confidence in our daily work.
Now Let’s Get Nerdy!
Let's dive into the neuroscience behind confidence. Three core areas of the brain are helpful to understand:
The Prefrontal Cortex: Situated behind the forehead, this is our executive center, responsible for decision-making, logic, and planning. However, its accessibility depends on other brain chemicals, affecting our ability to use it effectively.
The Amygdala: Known as the emotional center, it drives fight or flight responses and holds emotional memories. Positive or negative experiences with others are stored here, influencing positive or negative experiences and reactions.
The Hippocampus: Responsible for transferring short-term memories to long-term storage. It triggers anxiety and emotional processing, impacting our responses (positive and negative) to situations.
Understanding these brain areas helps us manage our responses as a leader. When faced with emotional reactions, recognizing our own emotions and feelings, and processing them enables us to guide our behavior effectively. We can then create positive experiences for others, influencing their perceptions and responses.
Now What? Confidence Builders
Be honest with yourself regarding your strengths and areas for growth.
Engage in projects or activities that challenge your current skillset.
Practice the things you feel are your limitations.
Surround yourself with those that push you to be better.
Be intentional with your active reflection and recovery.
As leaders, every experience matters, because every person matters. Our ability to manage emotions and behaviors shapes the experiences of those we lead. By understanding the neuroscience behind confidence and human responses, we can cultivate effective leadership and drive positive change.
Author: Chad Truby, Chad@peakgravityleadership.com
