Confidence is often treated like a prerequisite for action. We wait to feel ready, bold, or fearless before we leap. But what if confidence isn’t the starting point, instead it’s the outcome?One of my favourite phrases to share with clients is: “You don’t need confidence to brush your teeth.” It’s light-hearted, yes, but it carries a powerful truth about habits, routines, and the psychology of action.
The Power of Routine Over Readiness
Think about it: brushing your teeth is something you likely do every day without hesitation. You don’t pause each morning to ask yourself if you feel confident enough to do it; you just do it.
Why? Because at some point, you became convinced of its value. Better hygiene, long-term health, and a fresher start to your day. Over time, it became automatic, a habit embedded in your routine.
This same principle applies to professional growth. When I first learned to teach, I followed a structured lesson plan. As I gained experience, I held onto that structure as a reference point while adapting my style. When I learned to drive (and relearned later), I relied on the MSM technique: Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre, until it became instinctive. These routines weren’t glamorous, but they were grounding. They gave me something to repeat, refine, and eventually build confidence around.
Visual Metaphor: Building Confidence Like a Brick Wall
Imagine confidence as a brick wall. Each action you take, no matter how small, is a brick. Brushing your teeth, showing up to a meeting, asking a question, sending that email. You don’t build the wall in one go. You lay it brick by brick, routine by routine.
Some days you’re laying bricks with shaky hands. Other days, you’re stacking them with ease. But over time, the wall grows. It becomes sturdy. It holds you up.
Confidence isn’t the cement; it’s the result of consistent layering. And the best part? You don’t need to feel confident to start building.
You just need to lay the first brick.
Rinse, Repeat, Grow
In new roles or unfamiliar situations, I look for what’s working, low-risk or comforting actions I can rinse and repeat. These routines become my scaffolding for confidence. They’re not flashy, but they’re effective. And they remind me (and you) that confidence doesn’t always precede action.
From years of coaching, I’ve learned two truths about confidence:
- You don’t always need confidence to act; you can take action, a little afraid or very afraid.
- You don’t need as much confidence as you think you do.
Sometimes, all you need is a willingness to start and clarity on your “why.” Why are you choosing to take this action? What value does it hold for you?
Confidence Follows Action
Confidence isn’t a magical feeling that arrives fully formed. It’s something we grow into, through repetition, reflection, and small wins. It follows action, not the other way around.
So, the next time you’re hesitating, wondering if you’re “ready,” remember: You don’t need confidence to brush your teeth. You just need a reason and a routine. And maybe a brick or two.
