2010 like 2009 will be exactly what we make of it. What we do is based on what we think the consequence will be. For 2010 confidence, commitment and energy will still be at the heart of winning performance. Where does that self belief come from? Some people seem to be born with it but they are few and far between, some people get lucky with their coaches and are open minded enough to take on the learning and some people discover it from books and somehow can translate the written word in to a line of action. For most of us self belief is elusive. Here are my thoughts based on 30 years of management experience:
1. Belief in a cause is easier than self belief. Having a clear organising thought or idea which helps you decide the course of action can be extremely helpful. It looks like self confidence and can come across as being single minded. The risk is the "cause" could be dubious but I have found that ideas like "integrity" are helpful. Having integrity as a cause is no bad thing and to date has caused me no harm.
2. Belief in the difference you are trying to make. If you can't find the reason to do something for yourself you may find it easier to do something that makes a difference to others. It feels more compelling because it is selfless. You look confident because you are acting with integrity. I always found it easier to be determined to do something for someone or something other than yourself.
3. When it comes to self belief the cynics aphorism "you are unique, just like everyone else" is a bit hollow. Your insights are developed from your own experience. Your insights and vision are based on what you, personally have learnt in life to date. That is truly unique. Your perception of your experiences and what you make of them constitues character. It makes up your unique vision. Self belief comes from feeling sure about that perception and acting in line with what your insights tell you. If you can do that then you are doing better than most of the people I have met in life.
4. I know for a fact that the success I have had and the success I will enjoy in the future comes from helping other people to be successful. Helping other people to achieve success and having high expectations of those around you is good advice which I have learned slowly. This is not the same as being selfless and open to being used. It's about seeing that helping other people to be successful will somehow come back round to you. Not always, and not immediately but it somehow does. It also provides another underpinning to your self belief which is the good feeling you have when you help someone else.
5. If I work in a team and develop a high level of trust in that team; real integrity, then the performance of the team starts to reach a whole new high. It's a bit like a band playing well, sometimes, just sometimes, the performance reaches a new level. I think the same is true at work or in any endeavour. It's not an easy thing or something which evolves out of courses and flip charts its more human endeavour, thinking and acting together which makes it happen. It's rare, its very often risky becuase if anyone doesn't carry out their part the endeavour may collapse but there comes a point when self belief and team belief merge. At that moment you are living one of life's fantastic moments. You may not be aware of it at the time but when you look back on the moment you realise that you were performing out of your skin. In that moment of realisation your self belief grows.
6. Practice. Self belief is also about practice and rehearsal. Malcolm Gladwell's excellent book, "Outliers" makes the point that the difference between ordinary and apparently "gifted" performance is 10,000 hrs of practice. The top tip, if you want to be good at something, there isn't a substitute for practice. When you aren't good at something then practice. Tiny persistent incremental improvement will slowly underpin your self belief. Rather than relying on bravado you will have developed the techique, inner learning and insights that make you stand out. Time consuming and slow, not like it is in the movies. But practice and rehearsal do make a difference.
One footnote here is the maxim that is worth remembering though "practice makes mindless" it's a cautionary note for experts. If we always act a certain way then we can become dull in the way we work, we don't inspire people around us.
7. Self belief is a choice. No-one can make that choice for you. The stories you tell yourself about your performance and the behaviours and performance of the team aroun d you are just that, your stories. We often go through life holding very then stories about why we do or don't do certain things. Sometimes it's worth remembering these stories are choices. No one can hurt you unless you choose to let them. Viktor Frankl's excellent book "Man's Search for Meaning" is for me the feinitive guide to this argument. Each time we undermine ourselves and take the victim role its a choice we make. Each time we rise up and drive something forward and makes a difference to te world around us it is only a choice. We chose to act in line with our belief's.
Have a great 2010.
