As humans, we have evolved over thousands of years with one primary objective—survival. Our brains are hardwired to protect us.
In earlier times, that meant staying alert to threats like predators and danger in our environment. Today, the threats may look different—less physical, but often more subtle and persistent.
Regardless, the wiring remains the same.
We are naturally biased to notice what is wrong, what is out of place, and what needs to be fixed.
As leaders and coaches, this shows up in a powerful way.
We are quick to spot errors.
Quick to correct.
Quick to focus on what isn’t working.
But that very tendency can blind us to what is going right.
And when that happens, we miss one of the most important responsibilities of leadership—building confidence.
Leadership is not just about developing competence.
It is about developing confidence.
If we focus only on what needs to be corrected, we risk sending an unintended message:
“Nothing you do is ever quite good enough.”
Over time, that erodes confidence. It creates hesitation. It discourages risk-taking.
And without confidence, growth stalls.
Think about it as a parent.
If all we do is correct our children—even with the best intentions—they may begin to believe they are always falling short. The very effort to help them improve can unintentionally diminish their belief in themselves.
The same is true in leadership.
We must rewrite the script.
We must intentionally look for what is going right.
We must recognize it.
Reinforce it.
Encourage it.
Because when people feel seen for their strengths, they gain the confidence to step outside their comfort zone—to take risks, to stretch, and to grow.
There will always be areas for improvement.
But growth will not occur without confidence.
And building that confidence is our responsibility as leaders.
So challenge yourself today:
What positive behaviors can you identify and recognize?
Work to find more positives than negatives.
They are there.
You just have to train yourself to see them
