CONFIDENCE VS OVERCONFIDENCE BAROMETER

Few days ago, I was chatting with a friend regarding positivity, negativity, confidence and overconfidence. She made a statement which spurred my apatite for that chat when she said, "some people are overconfident ", and I immediately asked for more details of how she distinguished confidence from overconfidence. She indicated that, one close person who everyone was thinking would pass certain examinations disappointed them because that person failed lamentably due to lack of preparation. Prior to the examinations, the person was always reminded and adviced to study but yielded not and was always saying that he knew it and would pass. However, results which always shows, proved that he didn't study and failed, therefore my friend attributed this to his overconfidence in himself without working hard for it.

Overconfidence has many faces some of them includes :

• showing off,
• failing to take valid advice
• Pride
• Arrogance
• Know it all attitude
• Boastful
• Pompous

 

• Ingratitude
• Ignorance
• Judgemental
• Mocking others 
• Always Seeking validation or approvals from others 
• Loud and noisy
• Disrespectful behaviour 
• Don't like to be criticised

On the other side of this is confidence which includes :

• Humility
• Knowledgeable and always learning
• Authentic and real 
• Attentive and sensitivity to others
• Calm and relaxed
• Good listeners
• Accept objective criticisms
• Validation comes from within
• Admit their weaknesses and ask for help

Confidence is believing in your skills, abilities and knowledge with the right attitude. It grows with time through investing in your self, learning, reading relevant books, watching relevant videos, seeking guidance from mentors, coaches and those we look up to. Overconfidence can be checked and managed and it takes humility to listen and take proper counsel, it's never too late to uninstall the overconfidence software before it corrupts you completely. 

Overconfidence may ruin your career and make your life miserable therefore check yourself and guide against such. However, others maybe be with the view that overconfidence is good for risk taking , but remember the propensity of self deception is very high, for example, a person who thinks he is a great boxer and challenges an a great fighter to a boxing match. The person who was overconfident and who was mistaken about his actual boxing abilities with no proper training could end up getting knocked out in the fight as a result of his overconfidence. 

Similarly, an overconfident employee may think he could never be fired because of his previous good performance and yet keeps on committing misconducts which could result in his dismissal. For a teacher, that might mean ignoring that your lecture isn't clear. For a manager, it might mean that you overlook your employees' contribution, for driver ignoring speed limits and road safety ending up in avoidable accidents.

Equally, like indicated in the beginning, a student may think he has a photographic memory, detailed understanding of the subject and show overconfidence by perpetually absconding from classes, not taking notes, not studying thus ending up with poor results or failing the examinations.

Being real and honest always triumph over unrealistic and dishonest.It is said that, "too much of everything is not good". What side are you?  Remember, It's your choice! 

For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

God bless you!