3 truly terrible ways to appear more confident PART 3 (Queen of Confidence series)
It’s time to talk about the third truly terrible way to try to appear more confident. In this series, I’ve commented about two other truly terrible ways to try to appear more confident:
- TALK TALK TALK aka Talk the talk too much
- Never Admit Your Mistakes
Both humdingers in their own right, and well worth the discussion we’ve given. But now we’re going to speak of the last in this series of boneheaded blunders, which is aptly titled:
“You can’t tell me anything I don’t already know”
Ahhhh, what a sublime declaration! Immediately someone popped right into your head, huh? Someone who can’t be/isn’t/never was wrong, knows it all, is jaded and worldly and ever so hard to impress, right? They’ve seen and done it all.
We all know those folks. They’re rigid and stiff. They get mad when their opinions or points of view are challenged. They sulk, or get passive aggressive or overly “nice” or condescending or sometimes even downright contemptuous when questioned.
They’re not a lot of fun to be around. Who can relax around such people? They’re like walking mine fields.
“Minds are like parachutes – they only function when open.”- Thomas Dewar
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities. In the expert’s mind there are few.” – Shunryu Suzuki
The truly confident person readily admits to what they do not know. They seek to increase their knowledge, and are not embarrassed by honest ignorance. They get excited at the prospect of growth. They’re adaptable, flexible, and display a great capacity for goodwill. They readily express appreciation and gratitude.
Most of all, truly confident people not only know that they don’t know everything, they’re gentle with themselves for not knowing. They’re kind, inside and out. They forgive ignorance, both in themselves and in others.
To possess genuine confidence is to stay open to possibilities, be flexible and kind, to actively listen and to admit error.
How confident are you, really?
Molly Burke CPCC MSU
Queen of Confidence
www.lifepurposeworks.com
“I’ve bottled confidence, and it’s for sale!”
