Sometimes classed as ‘over-confidence’, arrogance and confidence are separated by a very fine line. Those who can find the balance are skilled and charismatic. Those who veer more on the arrogant side may do so as an oblivious mistake but being able to notice the signs that you are coming across as too cocky can help alter how you are perceived.
By definition, to be arrogant is to be:
“unpleasantly proud and behaving as if you are more important than, or know more than, other people”
To have confidence, is to have:
“the quality of being certain of your abilities or of having trust in people, plans, or the future”
Whilst these appear simple definitions, people are often unaware of when they are coming across as too arrogant and the effects that this can have. The connotations of arrogance include belittlement, superiority, and ignorance. Within the status-quo, this can be an off-putting or unattractive trait for many professional and social situations, from presentations, to dates. This can have a detrimental effect on what you could view as success in these situations.
However, that does not mean you should not express self-assurance in yourself, as showing too little confidence could be just as detrimental; hence why balance is important. Knowing your strengths and where you can succeed shows reliability, and if you are able to communicate this in an assured and concise manner, you are giving yourself the best opportunity to give a realistic portrayal of yourself.
Confidence coaching is a specialism carried out by Anne Taylor at Directions Coaching. If you feel you suffer with lack of confidence, or would like advice in managing the balance, then do not hesitate to get in touch on 02031516830 or use our contact form.
