Because our fears are instinctive or automatic, they may seem out of our control. But in fact, we can shake them up. Having a sense of competence increases your ability to act courageously, even if you are initially afraid.
When you have confidence or “self-efficacy,” you feel more in control of the situation, whether you’re encountering a giant snake or tackling a difficult project at work. We are now more empowered to take risks, suppress our fears, and act boldly.
The courageous people I studied for my book, How to Be Bold: The Surprising Science of Everyday Courage, weren’t just confident in their ability to succeed, they had built a sense of self-efficacy into their very identity. Having developed a courageous mindset, they began to see themselves as strong, capable, well-prepared, and courageous people. We can do the same.
Increasing self-efficacy requires two types of skill building.
1. Develop specific skills
For example, if you want to feel confident in your new sales role, you’ll need training on pitching to customers and building sales relationships. If you’re looking to become a doctor, you’ll need medical skills like diagnosing diseases and following treatment protocols, as well as non-medical skills like communicating with patients and dealing with insurance companies.
A brave few train with extraordinary intensity and concentration. They want to master a skill and become the best at it, rather than simply trying to learn a skill and practicing it in a rote, repetitive manner.
You may be more informed if you attend a training course where the instructor imparts their knowledge on the topic in an abstract manner, but will you really feel confident when you go out into the field?The best training gives you the opportunity to practice under pressure.
Many of us in the workplace struggle to access the specialized skills training we need to tackle certain tasks with confidence. This could include simulations, expert instruction, opportunities to practice and master skills, and more.
Given how busy you are, it can be tempting to ignore your lack of training or work superficially, thinking you’ll learn what you need to know along the way. That’s wrong. We are missing out on important opportunities to increase our self-efficacy, develop a strong sense of our own power, and flex our courage muscles.
2. Increase your sense of general competence
To maximize the sense of control we feel and activate our courage, we need to pursue a second type of preparedness. It is the training and experience that confirms our general abilities. This is the sense that we have a wide range of abilities to achieve results in a variety of situations – to be resilient, adaptable and to pursue excellence no matter what.
As brave people around the world will tell you, such empowering beliefs are absolutely essential.
I’ve always wondered how astronauts muster up the courage to strap themselves onto giant rockets and blast off into space. When I asked NASA astronaut Terry Bartz, he said the survival training he received early in his career as a military aviator and later at NASA proved crucial in developing an overall confidence based on toughness.
After spending time in nature suffering from cold, food shortages, and other deprivations during NASA survival training, he developed an overall sense of “I can do it” that he never had before. “Spending intense time with my teammates while being pushed to my physical and mental limits gave me more confidence than any other experience I’ve ever had,” he said.
Unfortunately, many of us do not have the general confidence-building experiences that astronauts endure. However, we can find workarounds ourselves.
Take on challenges that push you into your discomfort zone. If you’re a student, try spending a year living in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language. At work, volunteer for assignments that give you the opportunity to learn about completely different roles and areas of the business. In your spare time, why not run your first marathon or try a physically demanding sport like rock climbing?
No matter your circumstances, find ways to stretch yourself to the fullest and develop your resilience and determination to succeed. You may learn a variety of specific skills, but you’ll also gain overall strength and confidence as you overcome challenges and achieve goals.
Ranjay Gulati is a professor at Harvard Business School and author of How To Be Bold: The Surprising Science of Everyday Courage. His work focuses on unlocking the potential of organizations and individuals by embracing courage, developing purposeful leaders, driving growth, and transforming businesses. He holds a Ph.D. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a master’s degree from MIT.
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