Balancing Act: Navigating Confidence and Humility in the Workplace

Kristine asked: How can I balance confidence and humility at work?

Hello LinkedIn Family,

Welcome to the first edition of #CareerUnstoppable, a weekly conversation to boost unstoppable confidence, productivity, and career success. You'd love it here, so hit the subscribe button and tell a friend-:)

Today, I'm responding to Kristine's question.

Confidence or humility – which is a preferred leadership trait?

I believe that striking a healthy balance between both can be learned. While confidence is often praised as a valuable trait, humility can also bring benefits to leadership development.  Mastering this balance is not only a skill but a tool for success.

Confidence is not the same as conceit or arrogance. It is not about “fake it till you make it”. It is not about being afraid to take risks or make mistakes. Neither is it about being defensive or feeling insecure. Confidence is a state of mind.

As you continue to build competence, you'll naturally gain confidence. Trusting in your abilities and self-worth can create the openness and commitment necessary to build trust and credibility at work. Confidence levels can fluctuate depending on the circumstances - when doubts set in, anchor yourself in who you are.

Being confident helps you to take on new challenges, speak up publicly in meetings, take more intelligent risks, and pursue opportunities others are reluctant to consider.

Humility, on the other hand, can keep you grounded. Mind you, I am not referring to behavior that makes you undermine yourself or dim your light! It is also not about being a people-pleaser. Being humble can help you appreciate the power of teamwork, collaboration, and relationship-building while demonstrating a willingness to learn and improve.

Teoh and Kriwangko (2022) offered a refreshing perspective on humility; positioning it as the perfect balance between an inflated ego and a lack of self-confidence. Several studies also shed light on the importance of acknowledging one's strengths while remaining grounded and open to growth.

Both confidence and humility are powerful traits of great leaders and great companies. You can be likable and competent at the same time, authentic in your values and actions toward others.

• Confidence can make you more visible and influential in meetings and presentations, as you are more likely to speak up and express your opinions. Humility can make you a more effective listener and collaborator, as you are more likely to seek out and value other people’s opinions.
• Confidence can make you more resilient in the face of criticism or rejection, as you are less likely to take it personally or dwell on it. Humility can make you more adaptable and open-minded, as you are more likely to embrace change and new ideas.
• Confident people are often seen as being more charismatic and persuasive, which can be helpful when trying to sell an idea, product, or service. By equally showing empathy and understanding for others, you can build stronger connections and create a highly engaged and supportive work environment.
• Confidence can give you the courage to take risks and pursue challenging opportunities, which can help you grow professionally. Humility can help you recognize your limitations and seek feedback and support from others, which can help you improve and develop new skills.

How can you strike a better balance at work?

• SWOT Yourself: Identify your strengths in terms of projecting confidence, such as your ability to take charge and assert your ideas. Also, identify areas where you could improve your humility, such as being more open to feedback and listening to others' perspectives. Create an action plan to close gaps.
• Practice Empathy: Listen actively to what others have to say, ask for their opinions, and seek to understand. Be curious outside your "bubble", knowing not everyone has the life you currently have.
• Learn from Others: Seek out mentors or colleagues who demonstrate a balance of confidence and humility and observe their behavior. Learn and customize their approach to your own style. Be aware that mentors can also be younger in age, tenure, or experience.
• Take More Risks: To cultivate confidence, take on challenges that are outside of your comfort zone. A little stretch could lead to your growth zone. Set mini goals for yourself and celebrate your wins on your way to becoming unstoppable.
• Seek Feedback: Regularly reflect on your progress and ask for 360 feedback from colleagues, mentors, or trusted friends. Use their insights to continue developing your skills and adapt your approach as needed. If you're not growing and shedding 'stale' beliefs, you're probably stagnant.
• Reinforce positive behaviour: Don't just raise the bar, be the bar! When you see others demonstrate this balance, call it out so others can emulate them too.

Mid-Week Challenge:

Research shows that humble leaders may be the key to boosting productivity and creativity in the workplace. Employees who work for such leaders are more likely to be engaged and speak up with innovative ideas thanks to a climate of openness and inclusivity.

Consider how you present yourself to others, your communication style, and your approach to feedback and criticism. Are you ready to be unstoppable?

Ask yourself these 7 questions:

1. How confident are you in your abilities and skills? Rate yourself from 1-10.
2. How humble are you at work? Rate yourself from 1-10.
3. Do you proactively ask for feedback?
4. Do you stick to what you know or take risks?
5. How often do you admit when you're wrong or lack knowledge?
6. When networking, is your goal to promote yourself or build authentic connections?
7. When someone is more knowledgeable than you, do you feel threatened or see it as a chance to learn?

 I must admit I am striving daily to strike the right balance too. How about you? I'd love to hear your thoughts - comment below.

PS: Thank you for reading the #CareerUnstoppable newsletter. If you got value from this, tap the subscribe button now, and share this with your network. Do you have a topic you’d like me to write about or a question you’d like us to discuss? I’d love to hear from you. Hit reply and tell me what’s on your mind.

Be Unstoppable,

Mofoluwaso (Fofo) Ilevbare

HR Thought Leader. Executive Coach. Speaker