Confidence

Confidence is very overated in my view. I saw a good example of this in the space of two days - in two very different presentations.

The first was from an obviously nervous young lady. She stammered a lot, went bright pink whenever she spoke and even broke into a sweat.

But she was brilliant. She'd obviously worked really hard, to make sure her delivery wouldn't matter. Her thinking was watertight, she'd handrawn every slide - the content spoke for itself. And she looked like she cared. She was bursting with enthusiasm, joy even, she really wanted us to love her subject as much as she did and she was so lovably human she had us from the first minute.

In complete contrast, I also saw someone who obviously had much more experience. It was all slick, he didn't refer to notes. Everything shone teutonically, like a BMW showroom.

And no one cared. The actual content was OK, nothing great, but even if it was,the delivery was just TOO good. It didn't look like any effort, so it didn't look like he'd spent that much time on it.

We all WANTED the girl to do well. We didn't care about him. Her content shone with blood sweat and tears - and it was good enough on its own. He was Posh Spice  -all style, no content.

You see, confidence is overated. Some people can walk into a room and talk no problem, others find it hard but make sure that what they say is memorable, even if how they say it isn't. They're usually a lot nicer too.

Some people can run meetings through force of personality, others have to find another way.

And you know what? Lack of confidence is ace in younger years - you try twice as hard to make what yo say and do really good - it needs to be to make up for other weaknesses. That is unless you try and cover it. False bravado just makes you look like a wanker. Be yourself, I cannot impress how important this is. YOU WILL LOOK STUPID AND YOU WILL GET FOUND OUT.

And when you get older, confidence will come anyway. It will arise from having done things over and over again, endless rigour and having things go well enough times. It does get easier. But while you're waiting, be thankful that the stammering and stumbling just makes people like you more, and makes your work better.

Comments

[Rob]

Couldn't agree more NP ... it seems confidence is fast becoming the poor man's passion.

[niko]

I partly agree, it is ok to not have all the confidence in the world in your own ability, but it is important to have a boss, senior someone who has all the confidence in your ability to have you go out time and again and embaress yourself 't ill you get it right..

P.S. is it not the NP turn for a new assignment for the account plan school gig, or is Mr Campbell up again

[Rob Mortimer]

Belief and care in what you are saying can more than make up for lack of confidence in presenting it.

Nice thought.

[Rob Mortimer]

Belief and care in what you are saying can more than make up for lack of confidence in presenting it.

Nice thought.

[lauren]

anyone who went to Interesting will attest to this, NP. it was a line-up of the 'almost confident' and it was bloody brilliant.

[np]

Niko, as far as I'm aware, it's Paul Colman next, then Rob.

[Rob Mortimer]

I ranked among the "absolutely bloody terrified" at Interesting.

[Marcus]

Sacrum neraly pooed his pants at Interesting.

[Rob]

ALMOST pooed his pants?
That's not interesting, that's disappointing :)

[Mark McGuinness]

Amen, brother. Enthusiasm beats confidence hands down: http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/blog/2006/11/24/5-reasons-why-enthusiasm-is-better-than-confidence/

[David Mortimer]

That link is so true, I'm feeling enthusiastic just reading it.

[np]

I'll second that. Thanks Mark

[Anton]

Thank you very very much. This has made me feel light years better

[np]

Quite right Anton. And don't forget, the people watching WANT you to do well.