by Rick Baker
On May 22, 2014
If you wish to excel at business, you must have a better than average amount of courage and self-confidence. These states of mind, these habits of character, are the building blocks that support thoughts and actions required to succeed.
Spirited Leaders definitions:
- Courage is the state of mind that gives you the ability to think and act productively in the face of difficult and fearful situations.
- Confidence is the state of mind where you know you can handle the situation at hand and perhaps even excel in it.
Courage & Confidence are the best states of mind for:
- Tackling problems
- Dealing with difficult people
- Adjusting in reaction to changes
Of most importance, Courage & Confidence not only help you accept and handle setbacks ranging from light criticism to major failure...Courage & Confidence open your mind to learning from these 2 facts-of-life. When you learn from criticism - when you have what Spirited Leaders call thick skin & thin skull - you obtain the benefits of other people's perspectives not available to the vast majority of people [because their skin is thin and their skulls are thick]. When you learn from failures and defeats [both yours and others'] you improve and grow.
With Courage & Confidence you have a heightened ability to be 'present'. You accept the situation [rather than agonize over it, link it to past problems or transform it into worries about the future].
With Courage & Confidence you accept other people [rather than try to change them]. As Covey taught, you have the ability to seek first to understand [rather than jump to conclusions, paint others with negative brushes, etc.].
Courage & Confidence are the great enablers.
Courage & Confidence are worth the effort it will take you to plant and grow them.