Faith First: Building Confidence Before Decisions

When facing challenging decisions, many people focus on gathering facts and analyzing options. While these steps are necessary, they are only effective if accompanied by a clear vision and self-assurance. Research shows that confidence before making decisions is associated with decision quality, reduced hesitation, and better outcomes. Here's why confidence should come first—and how you can build it effectively.

Why Confidence Matters for Decision-Making

Confidence is foundational to the decision-making process because it provides the clarity and self-assurance needed to evaluate choices without excessive overthinking or aiming too low. A robust sense of self allows individuals to trust their judgment, making them less likely to second-guess or avoid decisions altogether. This self-trust is critical for setting ambitious yet realistic goals, which align with one's potential and resources.

Studies suggest that individuals who cultivate confidence are better at self-regulating their behaviors and maintaining motivation—both essential for achieving personal and professional success. These findings align with research on social and emotional learning (SEL), which emphasizes that confidence fosters a more engaged and proactive approach to challenges, leading to better outcomes across educational and professional settings.

However, it is crucial to balance confidence with critical self-assessment. Overconfidence, while seemingly beneficial, can lead to flawed judgments and increased risk-taking, which negatively impacts decision quality, as Dr Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic has shown. Therefore, cultivating a well-calibrated confidence is essential for optimal outcomes.

How to Build Confidence Before Making Decisions

Building faith in oneself before making decisions is about creating a sense of personal agency and ownership of your abilities. Here are some practical, research-backed strategies:

1. Self-Reflection, Perspective, and Awareness: Understanding your strengths, values, and decision-making experiences enables you to align choices with your goals . Mindfulness practices can further enhance self-awareness by helping you recognize and regulate emotional responses, contributing to a balanced confidence. - Matthew Syed in his book ‘Bounce’ also explores the role that faith in a higher power can play for creating a strong sense of self. Syed, himself agnostic, documents how this relationship has been well evidenced for high-performing athletes.
2. Set Small, Achievable Goals: Begin with smaller, lower-risk decisions to build momentum. Achieving these incremental goals creates a track record of mastery experiences that reinforces self-confidence and prepares you for more complex decisions. This concept of “quick wins” has been shown to enhance motivation and persistence, critical components of self-efficacy (as promoted for example by Michelle Silverthorn ).
3. Practice Scenario Analysis: Engage in “what-if” scenarios to explore potential outcomes of your decisions. This exercise reduces the fear of the unknown and prepares you to handle various contingencies, thereby strengthening your confidence in making choices, even under uncertainty.
4. Learn from Experience: Reflect on past successes and setbacks as learning opportunities. This ongoing process ensures that confidence remains well-calibrated, supporting effective and judicious decision-making rather than leading to overconfidence.

Final Thoughts

Confidence is more than just a positive feeling—it is a crucial competency that underpins successful decision-making. By cultivating confidence before diving into complex choices , you set yourself up for better outcomes, both personally and professionally. However, it’s important to note that confidence, like any other skill, requires balance. Excessive confidence can introduce biases and result in misjudgments, especially in high-stakes situations

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