#54 - Belief in Action: The Link between Confidence and Motivation

Weekly Update

This week saw me commence my 6th year presenting "Mental Skills for Exam Performance" to chartered accounting students in KPMG. Over the past 6 years, I have presented online and in person to over 6,000 people. If you're interested in hosting some CPD or leadership development, my research focuses on 4 distinct areas. Mindset, confidence, resilience and stress management.

Today's Research is by Dr Dale Schunk & Maria K. DiBenedetto: "Self-efficacy and human motivation"

My (quick) Summary:

As discussed previously, the concept of self-efficacy is central to achieving peak performance and is fundamentally about recognising and harnessing your belief in your abilities.

As a quick reminder, it's task-specific and focuses on an individual's perception of their ability to exert control over their own motivation, behaviour, and social environment. Self-efficacy influences your approach to problem-solving, your persistence through setbacks, and your overall achievements.

Three Insights from This Research

• Choice and Effort: When you believe you can succeed at something, you're more likely to choose to do it and put in the effort required. Think about it like deciding to tackle a challenging project at work. If you believe you can nail it, you're not only more willing to take it on but also more likely to dive in with all the effort needed to make it a success.

• Persistence: Self-efficacy affects how long you stick with something, especially when it gets tough. If you're confident in your ability to solve a problem, you're less likely to give up when you hit a roadblock. Instead, you'll keep at it, trying different solutions until you find one that works.
• Achievement: Ultimately, this belief in yourself—leading to more effort and persistence—translates into better performance and achievements. When you tackle challenges with the confidence that you can overcome them, you're setting yourself up for success.

One Question for You

How might recognising and strengthening your belief in your own abilities change the way you approach your next big challenge?

Until next week,

Patrick