"True confidence isn't rooted in applause or performance," says Jacqueline van Rooijen, Director at Ycagel and Transformation Coach. "It's not built on how many likes you get, how polished your résumé looks, or whether you nailed every decision. At its core, confidence is a deep awareness of your worth and identity — a grounded knowing that allows you to stand steady even when circumstances shake."

Van Rooijen believes that when confidence is tied to something bigger than fleeting self-perceptions, it becomes unshakable. It stops being about striving and starts being about standing still. That's why leaders can lead boldly. Not because doubt never arises, but because their identity is anchored in something stronger than the doubt itself, says the consultancy.

When confidence is missing, leadership falters quietly. Meetings where ideas are never presented in fear that they will be dismissed before they're understood. Opportunities that fade because fear disguises itself as caution. Teams drift or lose momentum when they can't lean on a leader who second-guesses every move, says the consultancy.

But leadership rooted in confidence is where influence grows — not through force, but through clarity. Confident leaders don't need to dominate the room; they steady it. They make decisions that invite trust. They build spaces where voices rise, not shrink. And when challenges come, they don't flinch — they model resilience that others can lean on, says the consultancy.

Research on organisational leadership shows that teams are more innovative, engaged and resilient when led by confident leaders. Why? Because confidence is contagious. It gives others permission to believe they can rise too, adds the consultancy.

"Confidence isn't a one-time download," notes van Rooijen. "It's built daily in the choices you make."

She shares four simple steps people can take right now to strengthen confidence and leadership presence:

  • Shift Your Inner Dialogue: Replace "I can't" with "I'm learning." Shift "I'm not enough" to "I am equipped for this."
  • Take Small Risks: Confidence grows in action. Send the email. Share the idea. Take the stage.
  • Ground Yourself: Start the day and be steady in moments of doubt — with practices that are grounding: meditation, journaling, reflection, breathwork. Act from that place of clarity.
  • Celebrate Progress: Confidence grows when acknowledging wins, even tiny ones. Every step forward matters.
    When rebuilding confidence, people don't just change their own life.They impact the people watching them — children, colleagues, friends, even strangers. Their courage becomes a quiet invitation: "If they can rise, maybe I can too."

"Confidence is not about perfection. It's about showing up, rooted in clarity and courage, willing to lead even when the path feels shaky," van Rooijen concludes. "And when you do, you'll find comeback isn't just possible — it's inevitable."

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*Image courtesy of contributor