Why Courage is More Important Than Confidence for Rising Leaders

Most of us look at confident people and assume they have something we don’t: a mysterious inner certainty that lets them walk into any room, take the stage, or tackle a new challenge without missing a beat. In reality, confidence and courage aren’t feelings you wait to have—they’re qualities you build by showing up scared and doing the hard thing anyway. In this episode, I share my personal journey from self-doubt and fear, through years spent faking it until it became real, and how true courage means stepping up even when your insides are shaking.

"Every single thing I’ve ever done in my life is because of the courage to do something scared."

~Mark Silverman

Today on The Rising Leader:

· Courage is not about the absence of fear but about taking action despite it.

· Confidence grows through repeated experience, not through waiting to feel ready.

· Preparation is the foundation—true confidence is earned through putting in the work and practicing beforehand.

· Failure is inevitable; what matters is surviving it, which builds resilience and a stronger sense of self-confidence.

· Success isn’t about never being scared—it’s about consistently showing up, even when you want to pull the covers over your head.

· Many highly accomplished people still feel fear inside; outward signs of confidence can be built through courage and consistent effort.

· The willingness to “do it anyway” is more important than feeling brave or believing you’re exceptional.

· Reflecting on your track record—surviving challenges and bouncing back—can bolster your faith in your ability to handle future fear.

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Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you.

In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.

Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader.

Leader, It’s Time to Rise!

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