The moment you step up to lead, you immediately discover your level of confidence.
And the question that comes up is why?
- What causes the difference between writing and preparing a talk, and standing up to deliver it?
- What causes the difference between the great idea you came up with in your office and presenting it to your board? Maybe it’s a big decision, and you begin to second guess yourself.
- What causes the difference between your time in prayer and stepping into a conflict-oriented and challenging conversation?
You were confident that you were ready, and God was with you, then something changed. Real-life happened, and your confidence was shaken.
It happens to all of us.
It happens to those who are overconfident as well as those who are underconfident.
The truth is that it’s not just skill and experience that produces your confidence in the natural realm; your confidence is greatly strengthened on the inside at a soul level.
Dr. Sam Chand is a long-time friend and mentor. His story is fascinating as he talks about his leadership journey toward confidence. He was born in India, a pastor’s son, and came to the US for college. Sam started as a dishwasher and cook at the college he attended and ended up as the president of that same college. Sam became a pastor and today is a successful author, change strategist, and sought-after leadership consultant.
Sam has the right stuff on the inside.
He has the five core qualities at a soul level that allow you to possess a deeper sense of confidence in your leadership.
These soul level qualities are not reserved for a few highly gifted and talented leaders. They are available to all of us.
(I tell a fuller version of Sam’s story from an amazing interview with him, in my new book, Confident Leader! There I unpack more content about these five qualities.)
When you meet Sam, the first thing you sense about him is his humility.
And that is the first core quality in the soul of a leader.
5 Core Qualities at a Soul Level:
(These core qualities are a progression. One develops and leads to the next in the order they are presented.)
1) Humility
Cultivating humility is a complex idea.
How much humility is enough?
How does humility fit in with confidence?
Humility isn’t thinking poorly of yourself; it’s thinking honestly about yourself.
Humility isn’t a weakness; it is strength under control. It’s a balance of God’s gifts within you, self-awareness and maturity.
The intent isn’t merely to embrace humility, but also resist pride. Pride blocks humility and causes us to fall.
You can intentionally pursue humility, but you’ll struggle if pride is blocking the way.
Humility sounds like this:
- I’m sorry.
- I need your help.
- Let me serve you.
- You go first.
- I don’t understand how to do this.
- You are right, and I am wrong.
- Let’s do it your way.
- Whatever you need.
Trying to be humble isn’t really the goal; that can quickly become less than authentic. It’s more about seeing yourself realistically and putting others before yourself.
Humility sets your soul for a God-based confidence.
Humility leads to gratitude.
2) Gratitude
Humility sets you up for a spirit of gratitude. Humility prepares your heart to be naturally thankful.
When you understand you are a small part of a big world, you are an important part, and you matter, but you’re not the only person; you are poised to be a much more grateful person.
An ungrateful soul is an empty soul because it always wants more.
As leaders, we can be tempted toward a lack of gratitude because of our drive for reaching more people, growing the church, and seeing the mission advance. That’s a good thing, but not if you focus on what you don’t have rather than being grateful for what you do have.
Ungrateful leaders are unhappy leaders, and unhappy leaders are only satisfied with more.
It’s easy to start questioning why God didn’t bless you with more. Instead, tell God daily what you are grateful for, and often tell someone why you appreciate them. Thank them and tell them why.
Gratitude leads to generosity.
3) Generosity
When gratitude is in your soul, you make room for generosity.
When you possess a soul level generosity, you want more for people than you want from them.
You become a more giving leader. It’s not just about money, but also your time, ideas, energy, and love.
Giving becomes a natural part of your life, and you sense no need to keep score.
Giving becomes easy, except perhaps, for the times that you need to make discerning choices about how to direct your generosity.
Generosity is a way of living rather than a specific activity that you practice a few times a month or so.
Generous leaders look for ways to bless others and find great joy in doing so.
Generosity leads to personal security.
4) Security
Generosity flows into and strengthens your security. When you give easily and naturally, you gain a certain freedom to be yourself.
Secure leaders don’t often get caught up in things like people pleasing and performance.
Let me be candid with you. No one wants to follow an insecure leader. All leaders have some insecurity, but that’s different than being an insecure person.
Security comes from knowing who you are in Christ and being self-aware about your gifts and talents.
Being secure in who you are and confident are difficult to separate.
People like you best when you are yourself. Not everyone will like you, but they like you best when you are the real you!
Don’t worry about what people think of you. Consider this, when you lay awake at night thinking or even worrying about it, the other person is snoring.
Security leads to courage.
5) Courage
When you are secure enough to be yourself, you have the freedom to be courageous.
Courage always increases confidence.
When you no longer need to be like someone else, you see no value in pretending, and you no longer waste energy attempting to self-protect, you are positioned for courage.
You are secure in the person God made you to be.
It’s important to know that you can’t jump from humility to courage.
The leap is too far; the chasm is too wide; you’ll fall.
You need the bridge of the three qualities in the middle (gratitude, generosity, and security) to bridge the gap.
They help you make the journey to the courage that enables you to:
- Have tough conversations
- Make difficult decisions
- Take a stand when needed
- Speak the truth
- Lead into uncertainty
Courage isn’t always about doing what is big and grand, or before a large crowd, but more about doing the next right thing even when no one is looking.
Courage sometimes includes going alone for a short time, even though others may be willing to go with you. There are times when it’s just you, that’s leadership. That’s courage.
These five core soul level qualities are attainable now but also require a lifetime of intentional pursuit.
They will make a significant difference in your confidence as a leader.
Dan:
As always spot on!!
Thank you for your insights, They are both thoughtful and practical. Now since I have been contemplating much about SOUL CARE, what you have written is very significant for me
Blessings,
Suresh Thomas
Hey Suresh!
So glad this hits the spot for you!
Dan, thanks for being to the point and precise in your messages. I seek and pray to exercise these in leading myself, my family, my workplace, and my community.
Thank you Paul, and i’m genuinely glad that this was helpful to you.
Dan
Wow Dan! What a great encouragement! This was so good I just purchased the book so I can read more 🙂 I also plan to share this with my staff. Thanks!
Hey Mike!
Thanks for picking g up a copy of my new book! I think you will like it.
Glad this post was helpful!!
Blessings!
San
Thank you Dan, as always insightful and a blessing. I appreciate the insight that one cannot jump from humility to courage. I found that to be very true. Blessings
Thanks John!
And, yes, just too big of a jump!
Blessings,
Thank you Dan,
Great Teaching,I’m Blessed to be reading this.
You are most welcome Sandra!
Online apotheek voor modafinil in Leiden
modafinil verkrijgbaar in Nederland provigil kopen tegen lage kosten
modafinil kopen was nog nooit zo handig met online opties prijs van modafinil in Frankrijk
provigil: de oplossing voor pijnverlichting zonder gedoe
modafinil zonder voorschrift in Antwerpen
modafinil bestellen in België online
provigil zonder voorschrift verkrijgen in Zwitserland
modafinil online bestellen: een handige optie voor
drukke mensen
Beste deals voor modafinil in Nederland
provigil bestellen zonder recept
modafinil bestellen zonder recept: snel en discreet
modafinil: Hoe te gebruiken en bijwerkingen
aankoop van modafinil in Europa modafinil bestellen in Vlaardingen – snel en gemakkelijk.
kopen modafinil in België zonder problemen
provigil veilig online bestellen in Nederland
modafinil in Marokko
modafinil online bestellen zonder doktersadvies
provigil verkrijgbaar zonder recept
modafinil zonder voorschrift verkrijgbaar voor snelle
verzending modafinil zonder doktersvoorschrift te koop
modafinil te koop in Spanje
modafinil kopen zonder doktersvoorschrift kopen provigil in België zonder problemen
Bestel modafinil online zonder recept
Koop modafinil zonder doktersrecept modafinil vrij verkrijgbaar
kopen provigil in Europa aankoop van provigil in Italië
kan men provigil zonder recept krijgen in Brussel beschikbaarheid van modafinil in Rotterdam
modafinil bestellen zonder medische voorschriften kopen modafinil in Spanje
aankoop van modafinil in België
Bestel nu provigil online voor een gezonder leven. modafinil zonder voorschrift verkrijgbaar
modafinil kopen in Nederlandse online apotheek Prijzen van provigil in Brussel, België
modafinil bestellen in Nederland kopen provigil in België zonder problemen
Beste prijs voor provigil online
modafinil: Dosering en gebruiksinstructies provigil kopen voor een effectieve behandeling
provigil zonder medisch consult
drospirenone en ligne livrée en France à votre porte drospirenone disponible à l’achat en ligne
yasmin sans ordonnance disponible en Espagne drospirenone en ligne avec options de paiement sécurisées
drospirenone en ligne sans ordonnance Acheter drospirenone en ligne en toute
sécurité
Achetez de la yasmin authentique en ligne
Acheter drospirenone en ligne en France : ce qu’il faut savoir
Acheter drospirenone en ligne en toute confidentialité
acheter drospirenone en Belgique sans problème
drospirenone : effets indésirables et précautions d’usage
Obtenez rapidement votre drospirenone en ligne au Québec yasmin de qualité disponible sur internet
drospirenone disponible sans ordonnance
drospirenone en ligne : nos recommandations pour une commande réussie
commander yasmin Belgique
yasmin en ligne : ce que vous devez savoir sur la sécurité des paiements Obtenez votre
drospirenone sans tracas
Commandez drospirenone sans prescription
Pharmacie en ligne française proposant du yasmin sans risque
yasmin Maroc vente médicale
Acheter de la yasmin en ligne sans ordonnance en Belgique
drospirenone pour un soulagement rapide des symptômes
acheter drospirenone Belgique en toute sécurité yasmin sans ordonnance médicale nécessaire
Acheter drospirenone en ligne en toute discrétion
Acheter de la yasmin sans risque
Acheter yasmin sans ordonnance en ligne en Belgique drospirenone en ligne : Les précautions à prendre
yasmin : Mode d’emploi et conseils d’utilisation Acheter yasmin en toute confiance
en France
yasmin : comment éviter les contrefaçons en ligne Consultez un professionnel de la santé pour la
drospirenone en ligne
yasmin authentique en vente directe
yasmin : comment l’acheter en ligne en toute confiance
Acheter yasmin rapidement et facilement Belgique
Livraison rapide de drospirenone en France Livraison rapide de yasmin en ligne en Belgique
drospirenone : où et comment l’acheter en ligne en France
Obtenez votre yasmin sans tracas Acheter drospirenone sans consultation médicale
Acheter du drospirenone de qualité en ligne
yasmin prescrit sur ordonnance Trouvez la meilleure offre pour yasmin en ligne
Commandez yasmin sans souci en ligne
Acheter du yasmin sans ordonnance en ligne
acheter drospirenone légalement Belgique
yasmin en vente sur Internet : ce qu’il faut savoir Comment obtenir
drospirenone sans prescription médicale
drospirenone authentique en provenance d’Europe drospirenone sans ordonnance en Suisse
pharmacie en ligne Espagne drospirenone vente
I think this is among the most significant info for me.
And i’m glad reading your article. But wanna remark on few general things,
The website style is perfect, the articles is really great : D.
Good job, cheers
hello!,I really like your writing so a lot! percentage we
keep up a correspondence more approximately your article on AOL?
I require a specialist in this house to resolve my problem.
Maybe that is you! Looking ahead to see you.
I just like the helpful information you provide on your articles.
I’ll bookmark your blog and test again here regularly.
I’m reasonably sure I’ll be told many new stuff proper right here!
Good luck for the following!
Hi, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar one and i was just curious if you
get a lot of spam remarks? If so how do you reduce it, any plugin or anything you can advise?
I get so much lately it’s driving me mad so any assistance is very
much appreciated.
I’m really loving the theme/design of your blog. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility problems? A handful of my blog visitors have complained about my site not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Chrome. Do you have any advice to help fix this problem?
Just desire to say your article is as amazing. The clearness on your publish is just nice and i
could suppose you are an expert on this subject.
Well along with your permission let me to grasp your feed to keep up to date with coming near near post.
Thanks one million and please keep up the enjoyable work.