Building Your Platform: Transforming Confidence into a Leadership Strength

Build confidence and a resilient platform by aligning competence with physiological awareness.

We often treat confidence as a feeling we hope will arrive, like good weather. The difference is we can control the feeling of confidence and how we think about it. Confidence is as much a mindset as anything else. Simple strategies like rethinking that feeling before any type of public speaking. Most think of it as nervousness. However, if you reframe that as "excitement" or "enthusiasm" for the opportunity, now you are controlling that sensation and it becomes a strength, not something to fear. Waiting for confidence to strike is a strategy for failure. Confidence is built. It is constructed through a combination of technical competence, physiological management, and intentional mindset shifts.

To lead effectively in 2026 and beyond, we need to look at what really determines that feeling of confidence. We need to understand what is happening inside our brains and bodies when we lead. Confidence is a state of being, not just a feeling you are always striving for. It is an infinite canvas, not a destination that can be reached. Once you can internalize that, you can begin to let go of chasing something and concentrate on the actions you can fully control.

Competence Leads to Confidence

First, let's look at the foundation. I like combining competence with confidence; they work well together.

Confidence isn't magic; it comes from knowing your stuff. When you know what you are doing, when you understand the P&L, the inventory flow, and the merchandising standards, you feel confident that your actions will lead to positive outcomes.

This creates a positive feedback loop. When you are competent, you don't have to "hedge your bets." You stick with the plan, not at all costs, but you don't give up at the first sign of a challenge. Preparation reduces the need to fake it. In fact, anxiety and a lack of confidence often stem from a lack of knowledge. If you are afraid you are going to mess something up, learn everything you can about it. Whenever I have a concern about something or I am feeling less confident in a situation, I pause and ask, "How much do I know, versus those I am speaking with?" That question and thought process has calmed my nerves in so many different situations. It restores a level of confidence that allows your competence to shine through.

The Physiology of Confidence: The Dual-Hormone Hypothesis

Beyond knowing your business, there is a biological component to confidence that is often overlooked. Leadership presence is deeply rooted in our endocrine system. Biology always plays a role. We may not always know it, understand it, or like it, but it's there. As with everything we're discussing here, the more we know and can educate ourselves on these forces and factors, the better we position ourselves to manage it and lead through it.

Research in social neuroendocrinology (human wiring) has highlighted the "Dual-Hormone Hypothesis." This theory suggests that the interplay between testosterone (associated with dominance, power, and risk-taking) and cortisol (the stress hormone) dictates leadership effectiveness.

Here is the breakdown:

• High Testosterone / Low Cortisol: This is the profile of the most effective leaders. They have the drive and strength to lead (testosterone), but they are calm and composed (low cortisol). They can act quickly and successfully under pressure.

• High Testosterone / High Cortisol: This is the "pressured manager." They have the drive, but the stress is overwhelming. This combination often manifests as aggression, scattered thinking, or arrogance.

The Takeaway: You might have the drive (testosterone), but if you cannot manage your stress (cortisol), your leadership suffers. High cortisol inhibits the positive effects of testosterone. When you are stressed, your brain enters "fight or flight," making it difficult to focus or maintain motivation.

Important: This hypothesis does not suggest that only men can be effective leaders. Both men and women naturally create testosterone (as well as estrogen). The hypothesis is looking at the balance between testosterone and cortisol, not at specific amounts of either. As Dr. Talia Crawford notes,

“Part of the confusion with testosterone and estrogen is that we genderize them and call them ‘sex hormones.’ But in reality, both have important biological functions in both men and women.”

Understanding Your Physiology

So, how do we achieve that "High T / Low C" profile? We can actually influence our chemistry through our behavior. Understanding this connection between these two important hormones will help in ways far beyond just boosting confidence. This is at the core of strong leaders.

1. Posture and Body Language Your body tells your brain how to feel. Adopting an upright, open posture (shoulders back, chest open) is not just about looking the part; it can shift your internal chemistry. Some research suggests that "power posing" (standing like a superhero) can increase feelings of power and risk tolerance while decreasing stress. (Sounds a little odd, but try it, you'll be surprised at the positive effect.) Conversely, slouching tells your body you aren't safe, which shuts down your ability to solve complex problems. Before a difficult conversation with an underperforming store or a presentation to your manager, team, or others, check your stance. If you physically embody confidence, your brain will follow.

2. Managing the Stress Response To keep cortisol low, we must practice emotional regulation. This involves recovery reps: putting yourself in small, uncomfortable situations to prove to your brain that you can handle them. Every time you face a small fear and survive, you rewire your brain to stay calm when things go wrong. I love this saying Michael Hyatt often uses, "We have survived 100% of the things we have faced so far."

The Mindset Shift: Open Up For Possibilities

Finally, we must address our mindset. Neuroplasticity is the concept that the brain is like a muscle; it changes and grows based on experience.

Leaders with a growth mindset believe abilities can be developed. They view challenges as opportunities to improve. Neuroscience shows that people with a growth mindset have lower cortisol levels in stressful situations compared to those with a fixed mindset. This makes perfect sense. If you are open to new ideas, you already are feeling more comfortable in who you are and what you do. This is less stressful by nature. Confidence is a full-circle loop. The more you feed it knowledge and the more you practice it, the stronger the confidence is in all the right ways.

When you combine a growth mindset with competence and physiological awareness, you build a platform of strength. You become a leader who is resilient, persistent, and adaptive. You don't just hope to be confident; you design it through your preparation, your posture, and your perspective, you become confident. You feel it, others sense it, and the results follow. You make a bigger difference, you influence further and wider than before, and your value to your team and organization grows exponentially.

What small steps can you take to shift your mindset to ensure a feeling and stance of confidence?

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