Confidence: Borrowed, Built, Shared

Many people believe confidence is something you either have or don’t. If you feel like you don’t have enough, you’re not alone, and it doesn’t mean you can’t build it.

In La Confiance, Charles Pépin, a French philosopher, explains that confidence often begins outside of us. As children, we dare to take our first steps because someone holds our hand. Later, we find courage because someone believes in us. We start by borrowing confidence until it becomes our own.

This ties closely to the “Care & Dare” principle I explored during my program at IMD. When we feel cared for, we trust that someone has our back. When we are dared, we’re encouraged to step outside our comfort zone. Together, Care & Dare create the conditions where confidence can grow, in individuals and in teams.

If you’re struggling with confidence this week, try to notice where you can lean on care (support, encouragement) and where you might stretch with a little dare (taking one small risk). One doesn’t need to erase doubt to feel confident; one just needs to take one step despite it.