People feel confident when they feel supported, empowered and have “mastery” in their day-to-day work. So, as a leader of a team or an organisation, how can you ensure these three things are in place?
Support stems from a strong team culture. Confidence grows when people feel safe to experiment and know that mistakes are acceptable. That confidence is reinforced by leaders who genuinely care and foster a sense of belonging where people know there's someone to confide in and rely on.
At the heart of empowerment lies effective delegation. Briefly put, it means being very clear on the “what” or the task that needs to be done and being flexible on the “how” that task needs to be achieved. Adapting delegation to suit the task and the team member is crucial.
The third factor in building confidence in others is mastery. A confident team arises when each member feels they have the skills and knowledge for the work they need to do. A leader can build confidence in others by providing that skill development.
When I speak to my clients about what’s stopping them from building confidence in others, their initial answer is “time”. Once we’ve explored this and realised that the perceived increase in time investment is not that huge and worth the benefits, there is still a pause. The client will often then admit a lack of confidence in empowering others.
To find out more, read my blog on the topic and if you’d like to take the plunge and build a confident team, get in touch to see how I can support you. Whether helping build neglected skills in your team members or supporting you in overcoming obstacles to empowering others, I’d love to help!
