5 Steps to Becoming a More Confident Leader

Ladies, let’s be real—leading with confidence isn’t always easy. Between high-stakes decisions, managing teams, and driving results, it’s natural to have moments of doubt. But here’s the thing: confidence isn’t some rare gift only a few possess—it’s a skill you can build. And we’re here to help you do just that. So, grab a cup of coffee (or wine, no judgement), and let’s dive in.

1. Recognise Your Strengths (And own them like a boss)

The first step to confidence? Knowing, and owning, what you’re good at! Yes, we're talking about taking a step back and reflecting on what makes you a great leader. Are you a visionary, always looking ahead and inspiring your team with big ideas? Maybe you're a strategist, known for solving complex problems with precision. Or perhaps you're a connector, building strong relationships and fostering collaboration. Whatever your leadership style, own it! Write it down, acknowledge it, and lean into it daily—you’ve worked hard to get where you are, and it’s important to recognise your strengths.

⭐ Golden Nugget: Identify one leadership strength that comes naturally to you and find a way to amplify it this week—whether it’s leading a strategy session, mentoring a team member, or advocating for a new idea. Confidence grows with action! If you're unsure, ask a trusted colleague what they admire about your leadership.

2. Stop Playing the Comparison Game (You’re not a carbon copy of anyone!)

It’s so easy to get stuck in the comparison trap. “Oh, look at her, she’s got it all together.” “Why can’t I be more like them?” But here’s the truth—you’re not meant to be like anyone else. Embrace your quirks and uniqueness. The world doesn’t need another copy of someone else; it needs you.

Confidence comes from accepting your individuality and recognising that your leadership style doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s to be effective.

⭐ Golden Nugget: Next time you catch yourself comparing, pause and reframe the thought. Instead of “Why can’t I be like them?” ask, “What makes me a strong leader in my own way?” Own your strengths—because no one leads quite like you do, and that’s a good thing.

3. Know Yourself (The right tools can help...)

Ever found yourself reacting in a way that surprised even you? Maybe you shut down in conflict, over-explained when giving feedback, or felt personally responsible for everyone’s success (or failure). A lack of self-awareness can make leadership feel like walking through a maze blindfolded—misunderstandings, frustration, and unnecessary tension included.

That’s where the Enneagram comes in. It’s not just another personality test—it’s a deep dive into your core motivations, fears, and strengths. Understanding your Enneagram type helps you develop emotional intelligence (otherwise known as EQ), a key trait of great leaders. High EQ leaders know how to regulate their emotions, communicate effectively, and adapt their leadership style based on the needs of their team.

For example:

1. If you’re a Type 1 (The Strict Perfectionist), you might hold yourself (and others) to impossibly high standards. The Enneagram helps you recognise when to loosen the grip and foster progress over perfection.
2. If you’re a Type 3 (The Competitive Achiever), you may focus so much on success that you overlook the emotional needs of your team. Understanding this allows you to build stronger, more meaningful relationships.
3. If you’re a Type 9 (The Adaptive Peacemaker), you might avoid tough conversations to keep the peace. The Enneagram helps you step into confident decision-making without fear of conflict.

When you truly know yourself, you lead with clarity, fairness, and confidence—because you understand not just what you do, but why you do it. And the best part? This awareness also helps you understand your team, navigate conflicts with empathy, and build a culture where everyone thrives.

⭐ Golden Nugget: Take a moment to reflect—how do you typically respond to stress or conflict? The better you understand your patterns, the more effectively you can lead with emotional intelligence. Choosing a robust tool, like the Enneagram, can be a gamechanger for leaders ready to level up. 🔗 Take the test here.

4. Embrace the Art of Delegation (You don’t have to do it all)

It’s tempting to think you need to do everything yourself to prove you’ve got it under control. Spoiler alert: you don’t. In fact, trying to do it all can hold both you and your team back. Confident leaders know that delegation isn’t just about offloading tasks—it’s about empowering others to step up, take ownership, and grow in their roles.

When you trust your team and give them the space to shine, you’re not just lightening your workload—you’re building a business or organisation that isn’t solely dependent on you. If your leadership is the only thing keeping things running, what happens when you take a sick day (or, dare we say, a well-deserved holiday)? Strong teams thrive because leadership is distributed, not hoarded.

Think of delegation as an investment in your team’s development and in your ability to focus on the big picture. When you free up mental space from the day-to-day, you can make better strategic decisions—and let’s face it, that’s where the magic happens.

⭐ Golden Nugget: Look at your to-do list and pick one task to delegate this week. Trust your team, empower them, and watch how they rise to the occasion.

5. Learn from Mistakes (Without beating yourself up!)

Guess what? You will mess up sometimes. We all do. But here’s the difference—confident leaders don’t dwell on mistakes; they learn from them and move forward. Instead of lying awake at night replaying that awkward meeting or the email you definitely should’ve proofread, take a breath and ask yourself: “What did I learn?”

Shifting your mindset around mistakes is a game-changer. Every misstep is a lesson, not a life sentence. The quicker you extract the lesson and move on, the more confidence you’ll have left for what truly matters. Mistakes aren’t proof that you’re not capable—they’re proof that you’re growing, evolving, and leading boldly.

⭐ Golden Nugget: The next time you catch yourself spiralling over a mistake, set a time limit—reflect, learn, and then move on. Confidence comes from progress, not perfection.

Final Thoughts

Confidence doesn’t happen overnight, but with these five steps, you’re well on your way to stepping into your full leadership potential. So, embrace your strengths, trust your team, own your uniqueness, learn from mistakes, and deepen your self-awareness—because confident leaders are unapologetically themselves.

And if you’re ready to take your leadership confidence to the next level, our accredited Enneagram coaches can help. Our 1-on-1 leadership coaching programme is designed to help you deepen your self-awareness, navigate challenges with confidence, and lead with impact.

📩 Get in touch to learn more about our coaching programmes—because the best leaders never stop growing.