Source: forbes.com
When it comes to portraying yourself as a confident leader, you’ve likely heard the saying, “fake it till you make it.” While that advice might work in the short term, you need genuine confidence to make the right decisions, motivate others around you, and be a strong leader. 67% of senior leaders cite gravitas (which incorporates confidence) as the most critical aspect of executive presence, according to research from Garfinkle Executive Coaching.
Employees and stakeholders are more likely to follow someone who appears confident when they speak and act. And yet, overall confidence in leadership is low, with only 40% of managers believing the people leading their companies have high-quality leadership skills, representing a 17% drop and the most significant decline in over a decade, according to research from the consulting firm DDI. So, it’s more important than ever for leaders to look and feel confident.