In this 3-part series, we’re looking at the number one priority in a positive leader’s life, which is to serve with confidence and love. Last week we focused on the importance of leaders developing the sincere desire to get better at serving co-workers, clients, family members and friends.
As a review, when I say serve, I’m suggesting something much more meaningful than getting someone a cup of coffee. The purpose of a leader serving with confidence and love is to help the people in their world excel. Individuals and teams want to win, they want to know their work matters, they want to get better at what they do, and they need someone like you to bring out the best in them…one day at a time.
This week the topic is Confidence.
If you truly aspire to become better at serving or helping the people in your world succeed, your confidence in yourself has to be strong. Without a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at meeting the needs of those you choose to serve, you will not be effective at helping others…or worse, you won’t even try.
In my opinion, the reason so many leaders use power or pay to motivate others, even though that strategy has proven to be ineffective in the long run, is because they lack confidence in their ability to influence, inspire and engage those they want or need to serve.
If you want to develop more confidence in all areas of your life and, as a result, improve the service you provide to those you work with and live with, start by becoming more optimistic.
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” –Helen Keller–
Being authentically optimistic in your personal and professional life is the foundation of confidence. Optimistic people expect positive things to happen. They believe in their ability to make a difference in the lives of those they serve and lead. Their optimism encourages the people in their world to believe in themselves. When individuals are optimistic, they put in the extra effort to do whatever it takes to Win The Day. Without optimism, leaders, teams and families give up too early. The hopelessness that grows from pessimism prevents people from taking positive action and destroys their confidence in their ability to do their best work. They stop believing they can make a difference and start coming up with excuses as to why they didn’t do what needed to be done.
“Few things in the world are more powerful than a positive push. A smile. A world of optimism and hope. A ‘you can do it’ when things are tough.” –Richard M. DeVos–
To become more optimistic, start looking for the good in everything you do. Optimism is like a muscle, and it needs to be exercised. The more you identify what’s working in your world, the more your optimism, confidence and service will be strengthened. You will also find that when you start looking for positive things at work, at home and in your community, you will begin to notice more good news. As human beings, we are constantly gathering information to support our opinions. If you or the people you lead believe there is more negativity than positivity in your world, you will find evidence to support that belief. If you choose to believe the opposite, you will also be able to validate your positive point of view. The choice is yours and it’s one you have to make every hour of the day.
While there are a lot of other things you could do to increase your confidence, nothing is more important than accentuating the positive in yourself and others.
Make a commitment to be more optimistic today. Notice if your positivity increases your confidence and service to those you want to lead. If it does, repeat the process tomorrow.
We will talk about Love in our next blog.
Let’s Get Better. Together! Bill Durkin
