Confidence is one of the most important qualities that can improve your child's future

Why is it so important? 

It turns out that when compared, confidence trumps competence.

There have been studies done to prove that confident people are perceived to be more competent, even when facts suggest otherwise. If a person projects confidence, others tend to believe that the person knows what they’re talking about. At the same time, being too modest doesn’t serve well. Modesty is regarded as hedging against possible failure. If a person doesn’t trust in his or her abilities, how could anyone else?

To convince others of your abilities, it’s important to develop a habit to communicate that you are good at what you do — without any self-deprecation regarding your core competencies. To feel more authentic demonstrating confidence, you may first have to convince yourself. Ask yourself: What am I good at? What was my greatest success so far? Why should others be led by me? What do I know that they don’t? If you have a hard time answering these questions, you have a problem — how should you convince others of your expertise if you aren’t convinced yourself?  

At MINIBOSS all our new students go through a series of lessons reflecting on their skills, abilities and interests, and presenting themselves as unique and talented individuals. Our engagement, teaching and communication methods are designed to emphasise at every lesson throughout the year that each student has something that no one else does.

“Praise yourself daringly,” the philosopher Francis Bacon said, because, as he continued, “something always sticks.” We praise our students regularly, reinforcing positive messages, so they believe in their talents and special abilities and feel confident following any dream.

Apart from helping our students believe in themselves, we give them opportunities to strengthen their confidence - firstly, by helping them create their own businesses. Have you seen the eyes of a 6-7-year-old, who introduces themselves with endless pride saying “I’m a business owner”? There is no going back in terms of feeling accomplished and confident after that. Secondly, we reinforce our students’ confidence by creating public speaking opportunities. The events are not just for school mates and their parents, but presenting business ideas to independent accomplished business owners, executives and investors. Not many adults have such opportunities, but for our students it’s their usual real-life playground.

In conclusion, confidence is highly important in order to be accepted and supported by others. While it doesn’t replace competence, it opens the doors that can stay closed otherwise in front of a person who has 3 diplomas and self-doubt.

Let’s raise confident children, who will become confident adults.

(inspired by Harvard Business Review article “To Seem More Competent, Be More Confident”)