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Thought Leaders Unpacked -> Clutch #9: Overconfidence Starts The Fall

thought-leadersThe problem with overconfidence is that, as easy as it is to spot in others, it is almost impossible to see in ourselves.

The problem with overconfidence is that our focus has shifted from the task at hand to ourselves and our reputations and abilities.

This chapter begs the question, what then is healthy confidence?

My starting definition would be a grounded comfort in who I am and what I am capable that results in being free from thinking about myself at all.

My attention is freed up to focus on others, on what is going on around me, on what I am doing at the moment.

Humility is a virtue that fits well here.

Neither a too high nor a too low estimation of myself. In fact, I’m not devoting any attention to assessing myself at all.

I already know myself, and I have made my peace with who I am and who I am not. I am okay with what I can do and what I cannot yet do.

I am not comparing myself to others. I am not trying to impress. I am simply not thinking about myself.

I am free to focus on meeting the demands of the moment. In clutch situations, that freedom to focus is crucial to being able to perform under pressure. In clutch situations, there is not time for distractions like thinking that you’re the right person to meet this moment.

What about for you? How much of your efforts to succeed have to do with thinking about yourself being successful instead of doing the actual work you want to succeed at?

What are your personal overconfidence or lack of confidence distractions? How might you help yourself shift your focus back to the task at hand?

What was your main take-away from this chapter? We would all love to learn from what you are learning.

Each week I post my reflections from one chapter of Clutch: Why Some People Excel Under Pressure and Others Don’t by Paul Sullivan. My reflections are my own and are intended to generate conversation, catalyze additional thinking and encourage mutual learning.
If you are just joining the discussion now, welcome! Catch up on the entire series here.


Here's My Thought...


nine + = 14