A sentence that I often hear.
From executives in demanding growth phases.
In moments when much is uncertain – and the next step is unclear.

I know it from myself as well.
And at some point, I asked myself: What am I actually saying?
And why?

Perhaps the sentence is meant to give confidence.
But what does that actually mean – confidence?
I wanted to know more about it and learn from discussions with other entrepreneurs.

It became clear to me:
Confidence is not the friendly pat on the back at the end of a crisis conversation.
It is not rose-colored glasses or a slogan to keep going.

Confidence means for me:
- Recognizing the seriousness of the situation – and still
believing in our ability to shape it.
- Not being guided by the negativity bias – but rather placing the possible at the center.
- Not hoping passively – but consciously deciding what matters now.

Matthias Horx puts it well for me:
“Confidence is not an escape from reality – it is an active shaping of the present with the goal of a better future.”

And I am convinced of one thing.
We need more confidence in our everyday lives today so that we can all continue to develop together in companies, teams, and society.

How do you deal with confidence?

You can find book recommendations on this topic here:
Courage to Have Confidence
Vera Starker, Dr. Katharina Roos

Confidence - The New Leader
Vera Starker, Dr. Katharina Roos