confidence

Is Overconfidence Good or Bad?

Is Overconfidence Good or Bad?

Rik

By Akiko Kawakami – December 11, 2019

Overconfidence is the tendency for people holding incorrect, overly optimistic views and failing to comprehend the limits of their own actual knowledge and abilities.  Research suggests distinguishing three different types of overconfidence: Overprecision, overestimation and overplacement.

3 categories of overconfidence and negative consequences

Overprecision is a type of behaviour where believing that one’s own judgments, predictions and decisions are more accurate than the reality without question or justification. One of the underlying causes of overprecision is human nature trying to resolve internal dissonance in a stressful situation. We could make low quality decisions or serious mistakes in getting things done because overprecision discourages us from listening to others, taking advice, or accepting different ideas and suggestions. Because of overprecision, you could implement the wrong strategies and never get things done.

Overestimation refers to a tendency to believe that one can be better/more capable/perform faster than true performance or ability, which is based on an absolute personal evaluation of one’s own performance, not anyone else’s. It is a common tendency as it is a good feeling to believe in yourself! Because of overestimation, we may enhance ourselves too positively instead of accurately, misunderstand the level of control we have therefore estimate the time and cost incorrectly for getting things done. One simple project, such as decluttering your wardrobe may be completed after costing more time and money than the original plan. Sounds familiar? Overestimation could throw us into the deep end if we believe we are capable of handling a risky situation or believe everything is under control when in reality it is not.

Overplacement is called better-than-average effect. As the name suggests, it is the term used when people believe they are better than others, which is an incorrect perception. Recent studies find evidence of underplacement, meaning people view themselves worse-than-average, particularly when you have so many things to do and you are overwhelmed. Both overplacement and underplacement occur due to a disregard of the accurate point of reference or standard to compare with. People who overplace themselves are highly unlikely to take advice from others, more eager to engage with competition and new ventures without consideration of the risks. People who underplace themselves would often miss a significant opportunity while they could have succeeded if only they had the courage to make decisions and take actions. It seems that both overplacement and underplacement are so extreme that we could be emotionally and/or financially damaged either by getting involved with unnecessary competition or missing opportunities to grow.

In sum, the analysis presented so far has made it clear that any type of overconfidence is harmful for optimal decisions to get things done and becomes a hurdle for us to be successful.

Benefits of overconfidence

In contrast, other studies provide evidence that overconfidence can be beneficial for our success. Johnson and Fowler state that “overconfidence can actually be advantageous on average, even if costly at times.” Research suggests that overconfidence is not only useful but essential to succeed in a competitive environment. Robinson and Marino confirm that overconfidence is connected with fast decision making in a dynamic environment thus new initiatives would never start without some level of overconfidence. In this case, overconfidence works as a motivator to achieve chosen outcomes regardless of the individual and the situation. Overplacement provides individuals with higher status and higher grades by colleagues even if the reason for confidence is unjustified. Those who believe they are better than others give an impression to other people that they are competent, capable of engaging with others and possess efficient interaction skills, all of which display leadership ability of an overconfident individual. Kennedy et al. conclude that benefits from overplacement are more significant than any possible costs. The analysis by Galasso and Simco indicates that CEOs with overprecision judge the failure probability lower than the actual. They are more innovative, particularly in competitive industries, and they are keen to bring new technology into organisations, that results in organisational success. Therefore positive impacts of overconfident CEOs may balance out the negative effects.

Is being overconfident the way to make fast decisions and get things done? Given both positive and negative outcomes, we now know that any type of overconfidence can be a two-edged sword.

How to overcome negative effects

Although overconfidence can be advantageous, sometimes we’d better assess our own beliefs and reality. When is the time for the reality check? Prior studies show that overconfidence can amplify results for the situation where one can influence outcomes. In that case, assessing our own beliefs and reality is recommended when it is impossible to control events. Helzer and Dunning suggest taking the third-person perspective and questioning the expected outcomes to be achieved by others will solve the negative effects of all types of overconfidence. It fills the gap between predicted and actual behaviour. Considering a possibility that we might be wrong and the reason why we could be wrong can help in adjusting our own judgment about confidence. Since over/underplacement occurs due to the lack of comparison or point of reference, having full information of the situation is helpful to avoid the negative effects of this bias. People with overprecision and overplacement are highly unlikely to take advice or suggestions from others. Establishing the systems to force us to consider perspectives of others or hypotheses can make us aware of the differences between our own beliefs and reality and assist us in avoiding the negative effects of overprecision and overplacement. For example, provide an explanation of our decision processes to the family and friends. We can establish our own systems which give us no option but to consider alternatives to defeat negative effects in making decisions to get things done.

Any challenge to get things done? Get coached by Akiko or attend Life Beyond Limits live/online training programs!

How To Be Confident In Yourself In ONE Simple Step!

Rik
how to be confident in yourself

Today I would like to show you how to be confident in yourself in one simple step. You can get an instant confidence boost in less than a minute? I know that’s a pretty brash claim, but I can prove it to you.

Confidence is one of those things that we all seem to want more of. Regardless of how much we have. There’s always a next challenge, another goal to reach, isn’t there? 

How you feel about yourself determines everything you will or won’t do. I won’t go into it fully now, but confidence, when you can summon it in an instant, is truly bankable. 

Your confidence that you project builds trust from others.

Your confident communication shows certainty and makes teams more productive, and inner confidence makes one feel more vital and alive. How to be confident in yourself comes down to how you feel. So how to you change how you feel?

Here is how to get a quick and obvious confidence boost.

The first thing you’ll need to do is to measure where your confidence levels are right now (in your head). How do you do that? Simply check in with yourself as to how you feel (it sometimes help to close your eyes).

Imagine that high confidence in yourself is a ten, and a no confidence is zero. Perhaps you’re not really feeling like connecting with others right now. In fact, you’d prefer to be on holidays, swinging on a hammock? Maybe you’re feeling a little anxious about something that’s coming up? If you’re not at the bottom, you’re not a zero and if you’re not at the top, you’re not a ten, you’re somewhere in-between. Go ahead and give your confidence level a number now.

Go ahead and calibrate yourself now. This is our measure point.

Now that you have your number, at least you know where you’re starting from. I know this might sound strange, but confidence is just a decision. From over 38,000 hours of coaching high-level performers, I’ve discovered that confidence is a quick, unconscious body scan about how we’re feeling inside, followed by a decision. The decision is usually a black or white one, such as I’m confident or I’m not confident. However, we can change our confidence by instead of scanning internally, we can scan our timeline.

Such as, think of a time that you had the highest confidence ever! Again, it’s sometimes easier to close your eyes as you recall it in a picture. Now, hear in your head the sounds associated with that picture and finally, allow yourself to feel it again. Begin to notice how your decision about your confidence levels seem to change. 

Here is another way to boost confidence that’s quick and simple.

How to be confident in yourself can come down to a simple posture change. Confidence starts at your sternum. Why your sternum? No reason really. It’s just a good place to start to increase your confidence. Now, your sternum is just below the point where your collarbones meet your chest. Raise your sternum slightly, a few centimetres (a couple of inches) now and notice how you feel more alert, more confident and perhaps even healthier. 

Now. Recalibrate yourself. Did your number increase? Typically, when we raise our sternum, we immediately feel more alert and alive. It’s a simple trick we teach our Speaker students – after all, when you are going to present at a meeting or speak to an audience, you need to feel alert, alive and more confident.

Raising your sternum also makes you more upright and strangely, I’ve found over the 17 years of coaching, that the more mental pain one is in, the more likely we’ll lower our shoulders and arch our backs. Too much computer or desk work can do this too. So while you’re reading this, pull your shoulders back and lift that sternum and notice how much better you feel. I hope this simple little tip helped you today.

You’ve got this!



Here is how to get a quick and obvious confidence boost.

The first thing you’ll need to do is to measure where your confidence levels are right now (in your head). How do you do that? Simply check in with yourself as to how you feel (it sometimes help to close your eyes).

Imagine that high confidence is a ten, and a no confidence is zero. Perhaps you’re not really feeling like connecting with others right now. In fact, you’d prefer to be on holidays, swinging on a hammock? Maybe your feeling a little anxious about something that’s coming up? If you’re not at the bottom, you’re not a zero and if you’re not at the top, you’re not a ten, you’re somewhere in-between. Go ahead and give your confidence level a number now.

Go ahead and calibrate yourself now. This is our measure point.

Now that you have your number, at least you know where you’re starting from. I know this might sound strange, but confidence is just a decision. From over 22,000 hours of coaching high-level performers, I’ve discovered that confidence is a quick, unconscious body scan about how we’re feeling inside, followed by a decision. The decision is usually a black or white one, such as I’m confident or I’m not confident. However, we can change our confidence by instead of scanning internally, we can scan our timeline.

Such as, think of a time that you had the highest confidence ever! Again, it’s sometimes easier to close your eyes as you recall it in a picture. Now, hear in your head the sounds associated with that picture and finally, allow yourself to feel it again. Begin to notice how your decision about your confidence levels seem to change. 

Here is another way to boost confidence that’s quick and simple.

Confidence starts at your sternum. Why your sternum? No reason really. It’s just a good place to start to increase your confidence. Now, your sternum is just below the point where your collarbones meet your chest. Raise your sternum slightly, a few centimetres (a couple of inches) now and notice how you feel more alert, more confident and perhaps even healthier. 

Now. Recalibrate yourself. Did your number increase? Typically, when we raise our sternum, we immediately feel more alert and alive. It’s a simple trick we teach our Speaker students – after all, when you are going to present at a meeting or speak to an audience, you need to feel alert, alive and more confident.

Raising your sternum also makes you more upright and strangely, I’ve found over the 17 years of coaching, that the more mental pain one is in, the more likely we’ll lower our shoulders and arch our backs. Too much computer or desk work can do this too. So while you’re reading this, pull your shoulders back and lift that sternum and notice how much better you feel. I hope this simple little tip helped you today and this has shown you how to be confident in yourself.

You’ve got this!

R!k Schnabel is one of Australia’s most successful coaches with string of successful clients. He is the Director of Coaching with Life Beyond Limits. Would like to be coached by R!k? Here’s the link to enjoy a free discover session with Australia’s #1 Brain Untrainer: lifebeyondlimits.com.au/rik-schnabel-the-brain-untrainer/