Self-Esteem and Confidence – Why Leaders Need Both

Episode Summary What’s the difference between self-esteem and confidence, and why does it matter in leadership? These two qualities are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings that shape how we lead, communicate, and navigate challenges. Understanding the difference is key to unlocking your full potential. In this episode of Reflect Forward, I break down the critical distinction between self-esteem and confidence and explain why having one without the other can hold you back. The Core Difference • Self-esteem is your internal sense of self-worth, independent of success or failure. • Confidence is your belief in your ability to perform specific tasks or achieve goals. • You can be confident in your skills but have low self-esteem, leading to self-sabotage. • You can have strong self-esteem but lack confidence in certain areas, making you hesitant to act. Why This Matters for Leaders As a leader, your team looks to you for stability, decision-making, and vision. If you lack self-esteem, you may: • Struggle to take feedback constructively. • Seek validation from others instead of trusting yourself. • Hesitate to take necessary risks for growth. On the other hand, if you lack confidence, you might: • Second-guess your decisions, creating uncertainty in your team. • Hold back from opportunities because you fear failure. • Avoid stepping into leadership moments that require courage. What You'll Learn in This Episode • How self-esteem and confidence impact leadership and decision-making. • The difference between high-achieving leaders with low self-esteem vs. those with high confidence. • Why resilient leaders must cultivate both to inspire trust and create impact. • How to recognize when one is lacking and take actionable steps to strengthen it. 10 Actionable Ways to Build Self-Esteem and Confidence 1. Practice self-compassion and silence negative self-talk. 2. Cultivate a growth mindset and learn from failure. 3. Build self-awareness and seek feedback. 4. Journal daily to track progress and reframe challenges. 5. Align your actions with your core values. 6. Take small, actionable steps to build confidence over time. 7. Prepare and practice to gain competence in new areas. 8. Use visualization techniques to strengthen your mindset. 9. Improve body language and posture to reinforce confidence. 10. Surround yourself with people who uplift and challenge you. Self-esteem and confidence don’t develop overnight, but you can build both with consistent effort and become a more grounded, resilient leader.Listen now to start strengthening both your inner belief and outer presence so you can lead with clarity, resilience, and authenticity. Know someone who struggles with self-doubt? Please share this episode with them. Gap and the Gain episode mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzaFLudAghE Don’t forget to subscribe to Reflect Forward on your favorite podcast platform or YouTube. Visit my website, kerrysiggins.com, to explore my book, The Ownership Mindset, and get more leadership resources. Let’s connect on LinkedIn, Instagram, or TikTok! Find Reflect Forward on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kerrysiggins-reflectforward Find out more about my book here: https://kerrysiggins.com/the-ownership-mindset/ Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-siggins/ #Leadership #Confidence #SelfEsteem #PersonalGrowth #ReflectForwardPodcast Please order my book, The Ownership Mindset, on Amazon or Barnes and Noble Follow me on Instagram or LinkedIn. Subscribe to my podcast Reflect Forward on iTunes Or check out my new YouTube Channel, where you can watch full-length episodes of Advice From a CEO! And if you are looking for a keynote speaker or a podcast guest, click here to book a meeting with me to discuss what you are looking for!