Confidence Truly is Key by Laura

Confidence Truly is Key by Laura - December 2021 Scholarship Essay

Who doesn’t want to be a leader? The idea of telling others what to do and taking control in a situation is a nice thought. However, few people have what it takes to be a great leader. I think one of the most vital parts of being a leader is having confidence. Having confidence is something I have always struggled with. It is easy for me to provide a safety net for everything I say and every decision I make. Something that typically comes out of my mouth is, “I think so, but I'm not sure.” This absence of confidence in myself causes me to not want to pursue any leadership opportunities in fear that I won’t be good enough. I find it much easier to simply be a follower. This way if anything goes wrong it falls on the leader and not upon myself.
Without confidence great leadership simply would not exist. So many other important traits stem from confidence. Someone could be a great problem solver, communicator, or teacher but without confidence in themselves they will not succeed. Humans have a natural tendency to trust people more when they appear confident. A great leader does not second guess their decisions and instead sticks with what they believe. When I think of people in leadership positions, I think of presidents and world leaders. There is no way they got where they are today without having confidence in themselves. They have to have confidence in themselves and have confidence that the decisions they make are the best for themselves and others. Confidence in a leader is reassuring to the people that are being led. Confidence is vital to receiving authority and respect from others.
Whenever I have found myself in a place of leadership I have always learned from it. While I may start out shy and withdrawn, I quickly learn I have most likely been put in that position for a reason. Forcing myself to step up to the role of leader demands confidence in myself and my abilities. Although being a leader is not a position I find myself in very often, I know from experience that even if you are unsure, confidence truly is key.