A Student of Leadership - Where Great Leaders are Made, One Habit at a Time!

Hello, and welcome to A Student of Leadership. The podcast that uncovers the secrets of exceptional leaders. Join host Rob Adams as he explores the critical habits and practices that define leadership greatness. One transformative episode at a time. From cultivating a compelling vision to embodying courage, empathy, accountability, and resilience.

You'll gain the tools and insights to elevate your leadership impact no matter where you are on your journey. Whether you're a seasoned executive or stepping into your first leadership role, each conversation will inspire and equip you to become the leader you were always meant to be. Let's dive in.

Hello, everyone, and welcome back to a student of leadership where great leaders are made one habit at a time. And hopefully by now, you know who I am. We have finished more than 10 episodes. These micro episodes, quick hitting, impactful, actionable. Yes, I'm Rob Adams.

I'm your host. And today we are focusing on a foundational quality of effective leadership, and that is confidence. Confidence isn't about arrogance or pretending to have all of the answers. It's about trusting your abilities while acknowledging your limitations, making decisions with conviction while remaining open to input, and inspiring others through authentic self assurance. True confidence give leader gives leaders the courage to take calculated risks, face challenges head on, and guide their teams toward success even in uncertain times.

In this episode, we'll explore what genuine confidence looks like in leadership, share an inspiring story of transformation, and provide actionable steps to help you build and project confidence in your role. One inspiring example of confidence in leadership is Ursula Burns, the former CEO of Xerox and the first black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company. When she stepped into the CEO role during the two thousand and eight financial crisis, Xerox struggled to stay relevant in a rapidly changing market. Burns didn't just make bold decisions, she demonstrated confidence through consistent action and transparent communication. She confidently steered Xerox's transformation from a copying company to a business service provider, making the largest acquisition in the company's history with a $6,400,000,000 purchase of affiliated computer services.

Her ability to stay resolute in her vision while openly acknowledging the challenges ahead helped transform Xerox and inspired confidence throughout the entire organization. Byrne's story demonstrates that true confidence is about balancing decisive action with humility, staying committed to your vision while remaining adaptable and making decisions that inspire others to follow even through uncertainty. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. This reminds us that confidence isn't innate. It's built through action by stepping outside of our comfort zones and embracing challenges.

The most confident leaders often have faced the most obstacles and learned from every one of those experiences. Now let's talk about some reflection questions. How do you distinguish between confidence and arrogance in your leadership style? What specific experiences have you built your confidence in as a leader? And how do you maintain confidence while staying open to feedback and new perspectives?

A 2019 Harvard Business School study titled The Confidence Gap in Leadership reveals that leaders who display authentic confidence balanced with humility and openness are 2.5 times more likely to gain the trust and commitment of their teams. The research shows that confidence when coupled with genuine care for others and a willingness to learn creates an environment where innovation and high performance can thrive. Now here are three ways to build and demonstrate authentic confidence as a leader. Number one, prepare and practice deliberately. Build confidence through thorough preparation and regular practice.

Create opportunities to stretch your capabilities in low risk situations before facing bigger challenges. Number two, balance conviction with openness. Make decisions with conviction while remaining open to new information and perspectives from others. This combination of confidence and the adaptability builds trust and encourages honest dialogue. And number three: learn from every experience.

View both successes and setbacks as opportunities for growth. Confidence grows when we apply lessons from every experience to future challenges. Remember, authentic confidence isn't about never feeling doubt. It's about moving forward thoughtfully despite uncertainty. By consistently practicing these behaviors, you will develop a natural confidence that inspires trust and motivates others.

Now, your action challenge for this week is to identify a situation where a lack of confidence has held you back. Break it down into smaller, manageable steps. Take action on the first step this week, focusing on preparation and deliberate practice. Document what you learn and how it affects your confidence. Confidence is the bridge between intention and action in leadership.

It transforms good ideas into meaningful change and hesitation into momentum. As you work on this week's action challenge, remember that every step forward builds your confidence muscle and inspires others to follow your lead. Now, next week, we'll explore gratitude, a powerful leadership habit that transforms relationships, motivation, and organizational culture from the inside out. Until then, keep practicing the habits that make great leaders, and remember, great leaders are made one habit at a time. See you next time on A Student of Leadership.

Take care, everyone.

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of A Student of Leadership. If you liked what you heard, then be sure to subscribe and share with like minded people. Have a burning question for Rob? Or a topic you'd love him to discuss on the show. Get in touch on socials.

We'd love to hear from you. We'll see you next time. And remember, great leaders are made one habit at a time.