In the midst of the current financial turmoil, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that 'the most precious asset is confidence'. Now, I know he was talking about the banking system , but his comment set me thinking about leadership, where the same is true.
A lot is said about the confidence of followers in their leaders. We talk less about leaders' confidence in themselves, and what happens when it deserts them. Anyone watching Mr Brown over the Summer will have noticed that his confidence seemed to have disappeared, and he was surrounded by people calling for his resignation. Cause or effect?
What a difference a month makes. Now, we're seeing someone confident in his competence to make a difference, and the confidence of his party and the country seems to have followed. Time will tell how successful the British Government's interventions have been, but there is no doubting that the PM's confidence is on a firm foundation.
I find that once my own clients find the source of their strength, they too are better able to maintain their balance in difficult times and give stable leadership to their teams when it matters most. I certainly think that confidence is our most precious asset, as long as it is founded in our strengths, not in our egos.
Comments