Quiet Confidence

We tend to picture the loudest person in the room - the one with all the answers, who never seems nervous or doubts a decision as the most confident. Real confidence is much quieter. What's the saying? No one likes a know-it-all?

It's speaking up when we have something worth saying while being comfortable enough to listen when someone else has a better idea. It's admitting we don't know everything and asking questions instead of pretending we do. 

Easier said than done 

There are more days than not when I don't feel confident. There are moments when I question myself; second-guess decisions; and wonder if I'm doing enough. I think many people feel that way, but we rarely talk about it. We see confidence in others because we see the outside; not the doubts and uncertainty behind the scenes. 

I've met people with impressive titles who had very little confidence. I've also met people with no title who carried themselves with certainty. I often mistake confidence with arrogance. I don't do well with bragging loudmouths, so maybe I overcompensate? 

 Shape not define 

When we're younger, we often look for approval. Over time, we learn confidence comes from within. It has less to do with applause and more to do with character. Here's where things go pear shaped. When we're younger, we often have less fear to try new stuff and that dissipates as we age.

Confidence isn't about feeling certain every day. It's about moving forward even on the days when we don't. Maybe that's what confidence really is - not the absence of doubt, but the decision not to let doubt stop us.

Some days we lead; most days we learn. ____________________________________________________________

Can't do that, Hal

We’ve never been more connected, and we’ve never been more at risk of missing the point. Everywhere we look - AI, automation, social platforms, smart everything - there’s a promise of efficiency: faster responses, better targeting, more data, and more reach. But none of that replaces what actually moves people. 

The kind that isn’t optimized, scheduled, or generated - the kind that happens when someone feels heard, understood, and valued. Not as a lead. Not as a click, but as a person. 

Technology has changed how we communicate, but it hasn’t changed why we communicate. We still buy from people we trust. We still remember how someone made us feel. We still choose relationships over transactions - every time. 

 Zeros and Ones 

Here’s the part that we often miss: the more digital everything becomes, the more human our brand needs become in this new world. While everyone else is scaling automation, audiences are craving authenticity. They can tell when it’s generic. 

They feel when it’s forced. And they notice when it’s real. Meta - which owns Facebook and Instagram just let go 10% of its entire workforce because of their increased investment in Artificial Intelligence. They won't be the only ones. 

AI can write our emails, build our campaigns, and even sound like us. But it can’t be us. It can’t replace our perspective, our experience, our tone, our emotions, or our relationships. It can’t replicate the trust we’ve built over time or the conversations that happen off-script. That’s our edge. 

So we use the tools, embrace the tech, and leverage AI. But we shouldn't outsource the one thing that actually differentiates us. Because in a world full of noise, relationships aren’t just important. 

 They’re everything. 

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We Can’t Ignore It

There’s a shift happening right now. We don’t fully understand it or where it’s going, but ignoring it isn’t an option. Artificial Intelligence isn’t just a headline. It’s changing how we work, think, create, and value ourselves. And the number of self-proclaimed experts on the topic are growing daily.

The Pressure Is Real

AI can write, design, analyze, and automate faster than we can. Tasks that once took hours now take minutes. If a machine can do what we do, where do we fit? People said that about the automobile and the personal computer but this is much different.

As Fei‑Fei Li (Stanford Institute for Human‑Centered AI), said, “AI is not just about machines, it’s about augmenting human potential.” Even powerful tools are meant to empower, not replace us. We shall see.

Where Value Is Shifting

AI can replicate patterns, but it doesn’t live a life. It doesn’t feel uncertainty or wrestle with tough decisions - that’s where real value lies. For now.

Oren Etzioni (Allen Institute for AI), reminds us: “AI is neither good nor evil. It’s a tool. It’s a technology for us to use.” Technology itself doesn’t define value - people do. We win by using AI as a tool while doubling down on what makes us human: judgment, taste, experience, and curiosity.

Authenticity Wins

As AI makes content easier, authenticity becomes more valuable. When everything sounds polished, what’s real stands out. Deciphering what's real is the challenge.

Kevin Scott (CTO Microsoft) notes: “We underestimated how fast AI would go from fun to essential.” The shift isn’t coming; it’s already here, reshaping expectations.

Don’t Replace Ourselves

AI can help us move faster, but it can’t build trust or replace relationships. Yet.

It’s a tool, not a strategy. The risk may not be that AI replaces us. Life is more than output and efficiency and AI still can’t define meaning. At the moment.

Or I may be full of it because we don’t know what’s next.  

Vulnerability

Dr. Brené Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston, has been studying a topic most of us have trouble discussing which is vulnerability. It appears in many forms; imposer syndrome, feeling inadequate, feeling like a fake, or not knowing the answer.

We all have moments when we feel emotionally weakened. Dr. Brown explains how it affects our whole life while being authentic can help those same areas.


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Feeling Vulnerable

Dr. Brené Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston, has been studying a topic most of us have trouble discussing which is vulnerability. It appears in many forms; imposer syndrome, feeling inadequate, feeling like a fake, or not knowing the answer.

We all have moments when we feel emotionally weakened. Dr. Brown explains how it affects our whole life while being authentic can help those same areas.


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Do You Ever Feel Vulnerable?

Dr. Brené Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston has been studying a topic most of us have trouble discussing - vulnerability. It appears in many forms; imposer syndrome, feeling inadequate, feeling like a fake, not knowing the answer, etc.

We all have moments when we feel emotionally weakened.

Dr. Brown explains how it affects all aspects of our lives while being authentic can help those same areas.


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What is Authentic?

The simple definition is something that is genuine; of undisputed origin. But we human types aren't simple. Or perhaps we make it complicated.

At an early age, we are told to set goals and focus on results as if life is simply a recurrent process of projects and tasks. It makes sense in the business world, I suppose, because we want a return on investment to show those who watch the outcome. And without revenue, business grinds to a halt.

In our fast-paced never satisfied reach for the next thing even if we haven't defined it world, is there room for authenticity? 

There are two sides to every connection; dad to son, co-worker to manager, supplier to customer. It takes both to create that authentic relationship. It's a heavy load to expect we can always find that in the interactions we have with each other.

Maybe there's far too much work to do, deadlines to meet, things to build, and products to ship, to find true authenticity. Perhaps we have to discover if we have the desire to find out if it’s possible.

I think it’s always worth the effort.
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Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Profit

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Being a Vulnerable Leader

You may have seen this and it's worth seeing again. Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston and she has devoted much of her work in the past decade on vulnerability and how authenticity can help us in business and in life.

She explains in her funny and fascinating TEDx Houston talk.


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Kneale Mann | Leadership Strategist, consultant, writer, speaker, executive coach facilitating performance growth with leaders, management, and teams.

Brené Brown | TEDxHouston

Awaken the Child

When you were a kid, you were probably discovering new stuff all the time. There wasn't corporate governance tied to strategic objectives to increase third quarter earnings, you just tried stuff.

Some stuff went well, some not so well, some evolved into other stuff, but you probably didn't over think much because you were too busy discovering and creating. My mom still remarks about how I would get lost in my own world when I was a kid. That kid is alive and well. Is yours?

Snakes and Ladders

But as we grow, we begin to form teams and norms and start to worry more about the opinions of others and grow older and our image becomes more critical than our identity rather than the other way around.

Then we enter the workforce and the race is on to be better than that guy, sell more than her, dress better than him, get the promotion she wanted, make more money than he made, and the world continues to push us to do more – often for them.

Time Flies

So in just a few short years, we go from a kid to a competitive driven individual. Now the business world will love her because there is no place for that childlike wonderment, there is far too much work to be done, meetings to attend, emails to return, and profits to increase. He needs to stay focused on company goals and revenue projections.

Then you may get to a point when you discover your values have been compromised, your goals have been shelved and replaced by those of the person who pays you every two weeks, and you yearn for the simple times when you just discovered new stuff every day without all this noise.

Do As They Say

If you own the company or you’re in a leadership role, telling your employees what to think, want, and feel will work never. Embracing that they do have goals and dreams will work if you do it with authenticity. Don’t be afraid to wake up and help those around you do the same. Put culture and humans in front of profit margins and share price.

Don’t shy away from that young girl who spent hours discovering new ideas on her own. Don’t shun that little boy who lost himself in creativity. Embrace life and let everyone on your team do the same.

The results will astound you.
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Kneale Mann | Leadership and Culture strategist, writer, speaker, executive coach engaging leaders, collaborative teams, and strong business results.

static.guim | flickr

Data with a Soul

We’ve gotten very good at navigating a busy life. There are deadlines and bills, meetings and projects, phone calls and deliverables. Yet we aren’t near as good at sharing ourselves from a deeply personal level.

Think of everyone you know and make a list of the people who could call you at 3am and you would get your coat and meet them and lend a hand. Now think about how many people you know who would tell you the absolute truth. Is the list getting smaller?

Touchy Feely Not Allowed?

Right or wrong, we know most don't think we can run successful enterprise through true openness and emotional expression but that’s how we are wired. So therein lies our global conundrum. Few corporations will let you admit you aren’t sure about a decision. Even fewer will allow you to share your personal interests, fears, dreams and desires.

Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston and she has devoted much of her work in the past decade on vulnerability and how authenticity can help us in business and in life.

Dr. Brown explains in this video of her TEDx Houston talk.


Kneale Mann

visual credit: TEDxHouston