How to Lead Confidently by Turning Thoughts into Action

Molly Fletcher, trailblazing sports agent, author, and expert negotiator returns to the Linkage Leadership Insights Blog with her latest insights—and we are thrilled to share that Linkage is partnering with Molly to bring you The Advancing Women Leaders Game Changer Negotiation Program. Available in person or virtually for a cohort of up to 25 women leaders in your organization, this program empowers women to take the next step on their leadership journeys. 

A lack of confidence changes the way we lead, the way we walk in a room, and the way we show up for life in general. Confidence is so important because it helps you overcome fear and anxiety, builds resilience, improves your performance, and helps you advance your career and live the life you want.

Turn Thoughts into Actions

Katty Kay, coauthor of The Confidence Code, joined my podcast and I loved how she talked about the importance of confidence. Katty said, “Confidence is the stuff that turns thoughts into actions.”

As a former sports agent and collegiate athlete, I often think about confidence in terms of sports. Like when I had to tweak my tennis serve in college, I didn’t get confident about that new motion until I practiced it. I wasn’t confident until I stood there with a hopper of balls and did it over and over again. Until I put it in play in a match and watched it work. My baseball players didn’t get confident in a new swing, or if they were a pitcher, a new motion, until they did it. Until they practiced it and then they did it. Confidence doesn’t come from thinking about it, from talking about it. It comes from doing it.

Discomfort Strengthens Confidence

People used to always say, “How do these guys or gals execute in all these pressure cooker moments? How do they stand over a putt and drain it on a Sunday to win a tournament? How do they do that?” It is because they did it a hundred times before. Confidence gets built from getting uncomfortable, right? It’s little moments of stepping into that pit in our stomach. That is where big outcomes are created.

In other words, the little moments of discomfort are what strengthen our confidence. If you want more confidence in your life or in maybe just different areas of your life, keep getting uncomfortable. Confidence doesn’t come from your comfort zone, but rather from stepping into moments of discomfort. We build confidence by doing. So, I challenge you: Get curious about the areas in your life, the roles in your life, where you could use a little bit more confidence. And then go and do. Feel that pit and STEP IN.

Molly Fletcher is the author of The Energy Clock: 3 Simple Steps to Create a Life Full of ENERGY—and Live Your Best Every Day. Bring Molly’s actionable and practical negotiation program to women leaders at your organization. Learn more about The Advancing Women Leaders Game Changer Negotiation Program.