It’s no surprise that the numerous major changes and challenges that leaders have faced in recent years have had a significant impact on their confidence levels. From advanced technology to societal shifts, today’s leaders have to address events that they couldn’t have predicted or prepared for. As a result, the inexperience and lack of understanding amongst leaders has led to a record low level of confidence in terms of their own capabilities to cope with changing systems and the ability of their teams to adapt to inevitable changes.
It’s a problem that leaders face now but is also a concern for future leaders too. The Global Leadership Forecast* found that half of CEOs say developing the next generation of leaders is a top challenge for their organisation. Only 12% of companies report confidence in the strength of their bench, creating a shortage of leaders to fulfil critical roles.
There is a leadership crisis sweeping through companies. Existing leaders are frustrated and exhausted, benches are thinning out and there’s a restless pipeline of leaders who are seeking more from their work and their employers.
Why are leaders lacking confidence?
There are two key reasons leaders are feeling this way. Firstly, a lack of trust. Less than half (46%) of leaders trust their direct managers to do what is right, and less than a third (32%) trust the senior leaders within their organisation. When trust is low, so are team dynamics and levels of engagement.
Secondly, a lack of purpose. Fuelled by the lack of trust, leaders are feeling disengaged and less inclined to put themselves forward for progression within their work. This is a problem especially for businesses with high-potential employees that could make for strong future leaders, as a lack of ambition will have a direct impact on the future of their benches. It’s so important for businesses to be addressing these issues now, rather than sweeping them under the carpet.
To succeed, organisations must invest in creating an environment where tomorrow’s leaders feel valued and can find purpose in their work.
How can leaders build the confidence to lead teams and feel fulfilled?
There are several things that leaders can do to boost their confidence at handling unchartered territories. Many of these can be easily compared to tactics used by high-level sports people, when overcoming adversities and challenges. Just like business leaders, elite athletes experience feelings of low confidence when things don’t go to plan or when they feel unprepared to face competitions. They need to learn to work in a team, to form a solid connection and work together towards a shared purpose. Becoming the winning team.
I recently sat down with three coaches from British Rowing, to talk about similarities between the boat and the boardroom helping leaders in all fields to increase their confidence, unlock their teams’ full potential and achieve extraordinary results.
Clear purpose = solid cohesion
When there are disconnects within an organisation or team, it’s important to go back to the basics. Why are we doing this work every day? What do we want to achieve?
In elite rowing, a leader’s ability to establish a shared purpose can significantly elevate the team’s performance. By articulating a clear, compelling vision—whether it’s winning a championship or breaking a record—the leader unites the rowers around a common goal, driving each athlete to push their limits in training, synchronise their efforts on the water, and persevere through challenges.
Reiterating the purpose of the businesses’ goal or ethos acts as a unifying force, aligning individual efforts towards a common objective and infusing work with meaning beyond every day menial tasks. Leaders can make this a regular activity, setting aside time for teams or even the entire company to come together, where personal ambitions align with team objectives to foster a sense of camaraderie and mutual accountability.
Closely linked with a shared purpose, is the need for team cohesion. When team members have a clear understanding of their own roles and those of their colleagues, it reduces confusion and potential conflicts. Clear roles allow individuals to focus on their specific responsibilities, leading to increased efficiency and productivity. Having this vision also better facilitates a stronger sense of purpose, as team members can see the impact their work is having on business results.
Building psychological safety through emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is a cornerstone of effective leadership, particularly in how leaders communicate with their teams. The ability to understand, manage, and respond to emotions—both one’s own and those of others—can have a huge impact on the dynamic and performance of a team. The long-term success of organisations hinges on whether leaders can create and foster meaningful interactions with the people they lead.
Leaders who employ emotional intelligence in their interactions can create a psychologically safe environment of trust, open communication, and mutual understanding, fostering stronger connections and more productive relationships within their teams.
Key strategies for building a psychological safe environment include checking in with team members, sharing personal stories, fostering discussion and curiosity, ensuring all voices are heard, and communicating both successes and failures. Getting it right can have huge positive outcomes for the team and the business; our research shows that leaders who trust their senior leaders are nearly 3X more likely to develop novel ideas or solutions than those in low-trust organisations, and they are also less concerned with failing and try new ideas as an opportunity to learn.
Mastering the art of confidence
For many leaders, confidence does not come naturally. It is a skill that is learned and builds up over time but is an essential skill to have when leading a team, especially during times of uncertainty. An understanding that things will not always go right is the foundation of a good leader’s attitude, followed swiftly by a ‘what next’ approach. Whether in a bustling corporate office or in the water of an elite rowing competition, every leader will encounter issues and there are some things they simply cannot control no matter how much they wish they could, but it’s the way they handle these situations and move forwards that puts them above the rest. By having tools like psychological safety, emotional intelligence and team cohesion, leaders will be more equipped to deal with guide their teams through unexpected challenges and adopt a gold-medal winning approach to leadership.
*Research from DDI
