Confidence Isn’t Loud:
8 Things Confident Leaders Never Do
I was at a business networking event a few weeks back. Name tags, small plates, that particular hum a room makes when everyone is trying a little too hard.
Somewhere near the drinks table, a man shook my hand and asked what I did. Before I could finish answering, he was already telling me about his year. His numbers. His expansion plans. I don’t think he meant anything by it. But I walked away thinking about that half second before people answer that question, and what they reach for.
Some reach for a title. Some reach for a number. Some just start listing. And occasionally someone tells you plainly, and lets it sit there without decoration. That last one is rarer than it should be. Confidence isn’t in the answer. It’s in how little work the answer has to do.
Here’s what I’ve noticed the genuinely confident leaders never do.
Notice what they have in common. Every one is about attention, and where it’s pointed. Insecurity turns it inward. Confidence turns it out.
The next time someone asks what you do, notice what you reach for.
Here’s to your true confidence!
— Steve
If you know someone who leads this way, quietly and without the noise, tell them. That kind of confidence usually goes unnoticed.
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About the Author
Steve Gutzler is the President of Leadership Quest, a premier leadership development company based in Scottsdale. As a dynamic and highly sought-after speaker, Steve has delivered over 2,500 impactful presentations to renowned organizations such as Microsoft, Starbucks, the Seattle Seahawks, Spotify, Boeing, Cisco, Starwood Hotels, Ritz-Carlton, and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
A published author and thought leader on leadership and emotional intelligence, Steve lives near Scottsdale with his wife, Julie. Together, they cherish time spent with their three adult children and six grandchildren.
