The Power of Conviction in Leaders

We often think of confidence and conviction as two sides of the same coin. However, I believe that there is a big difference between the two. Confidence is based on our ability or perceived ability to do something. Conviction, on the other hand, is based on our belief that we should do something. In other words, confidence is about capability, while conviction is about morality.

I think that conviction is a much more powerful quality for leaders to possess than confidence. This is because conviction gives us the strength to stand up for what we believe in, even when it's not popular or easy. It's easy to be confident when everyone around you agrees with you. It's much harder to be convicted when swimming against the tide.

Unfortunately, I don't often hear about conviction around the board table. I think this is because a conviction can be seen as a weakness. After all, defending a position that you know is unpopular is hard. It's much easier (and safer) to wait for someone else to take the lead. But I believe this is what we need more of in leaders: less confidence and more conviction.

Why? Because conviction gives us moral authority. It allows us to lead by example and inspire others to do the same. When we are convicted about something, we are much more likely to take action and see it through, even when it's tough. This tenacity is infectious and can rally others around us who might otherwise remain passive bystanders.

So how can we develop more conviction? First, we need to take some time to examine our values and beliefs. What do we stand for? What are we willing to fight for? Once we understand our convictions better, we need to be bold enough to voice them—even when it's scary or unpopular. We also need to be prepared to back up our words with action. Only then can we hope to influence those around us positively.

Conviction is a robust quality for leaders because it allows us to stand up for what we believe in—even when it's not popular or easy. If we want to develop more conviction, we must first take time to understand our values and beliefs and be bold enough to voice them authentically. We also need to be prepared back up our convictions with actions. Only then will I have the moral authority required to lead effectively.

By Dean Miles

Keywords: Business Continuity, Mental Health, Startups