Confidence is ignorance If you're feeling cocky it is because there is something you do not know

March 21, 2022 Blog Editor

Confidence is ignorance. If you're feeling cocky, it's because there's something you don't know. – Eoin Colfer. Confidence is often confused with cockiness. Confidence comes from experience. Cockiness is usually the result of making a series of poor decisions, coupled with thinking you can pull it off. Some people get confidence from knowing they're right, and some get it from feeling like they're in control. But confidence is a dangerous thing when it comes to the complexities of your industry. Why? Because unless you know everything there is to know, you can't possibly be confident! I know, I know. Confidence isn`t a bad thing. It's something we all need in some form or another and trying to achieve it, whether by lying to ourselves or others, is not always a bad thing. Most people have been wrong about most things at one time or another, but the rift between knowing you're wrong and admitting it can be a very difficult one to come back from. In other words, there might be that one big sin you know you've committed that no matter what you do you can't seem to swallow down.

Confidence might be one of the most misunderstood traits in business. Most think it's cockiness, arrogance, or overconfidence, but none of those are confidence. Confidence stems from your belief in yourself, your direction, and your trust in the decisions you've made leading up to an event, meeting, or presentation. It's knowing that you can pull off what you decide to do. It's knowing that there is an answer and that you know it. There is a big difference between being cocky and being self-confident. I've been guilty of being cocky, thinking that I knew more than my client or that I was just going to be able to pull it off without the help of a designer. This usually results in a useless prototype with a design that fails on a few levels. Cockiness, on the other hand, is a weapon of the narcissist and the egomaniac. As a strength-based psychologist, I never had a use for cockiness. In fact, if I'm being honest, I have a sneaking suspicion that cockiness is not a strength at all. It actually sounds quite insecure actually. But no matter how much it rubs me the wrong way, or looks like a weakness under a closer examination, many still believe that confidence and cockiness are two sides of the same coin.

Have you ever wondered why some people exude confidence in everything they do, while others struggle to muster up the courage to speak up in a group setting? The answer might lie in a surprisingly simple concept: ignorance. Yes, you read that right - ignorance. The less you know about a particular subject, the more confident you're likely to be. In this article, we'll explore the intriguing relationship between confidence and ignorance, and how it can impact our lives in ways we never imagined.

The Dunning-Kruger Effect

The concept of confidence and ignorance has been studied extensively in psychology, and the Dunning-Kruger effect is a prime example of this phenomenon. This cognitive bias suggests that people who are incompetent in a particular domain tend to overestimate their abilities, while those who are competent underestimate theirs. In other words, the less you know, the more you think you know. The reason for this overconfidence is simple: ignorance. When you're not aware of the intricacies and complexities of a subject, it's easy to assume that it's simple and that anyone can do it. This lack of understanding leads to a false sense of confidence, which can be detrimental to personal and professional growth.

The Fear of Looking Foolish

So, why do people tend to avoid admitting their ignorance? The answer lies in our innate fear of looking foolish. No one wants to be seen as incompetent or uninformed, so we tend to fake it until we make it. We pretend to know what we're doing, even when we don't have a clue. This fear of looking foolish can hold us back from asking questions, seeking help, and ultimately, from learning and growing.

The Benefits of Admitting Ignorance

On the other hand, admitting our ignorance can have numerous benefits. When we acknowledge that we don't know something, we open ourselves up to new experiences, knowledge, and perspectives. We become more curious, more open-minded, and more willing to learn. This willingness to learn can lead to personal and professional growth, and can help us build stronger relationships with others.

The Power of Humility

Admitting ignorance requires a certain level of humility, and humility is a powerful tool in building confidence. When we acknowledge that we don't have all the answers, we become more approachable, more relatable, and more human. People are more likely to trust and respect someone humble and honest, rather than someone who pretends to have all the answers.

The Confidence-Competence Loop

So, how do we break the cycle of ignorance and overconfidence? The key lies in developing a growth mindset, which means recognizing that our abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work, dedication, and persistence. When we focus on learning and improvement, rather than on being right or looking good, we can begin to close the gap between our confidence and competence. The Confidence-Competence loop is a concept that suggests that the more competent we become, the more confident we'll be. But it's not just about becoming more competent; it's also about recognizing and acknowledging our limitations. When we're aware of what we don't know, we can begin to work on improving those areas, which in turn, builds our confidence.

FAQs

Is it possible to be confident and ignorant at the same time?
Yes, it's not only possible but also common. We often overestimate our abilities and underestimate the complexity of a task until we're faced with the reality of our limitations.
Can admitting ignorance help build confidence?
Yes, admitting ignorance can be a powerful tool in building confidence. When we acknowledge that we don't know something, we open ourselves up to new experiences, knowledge, and perspectives, which can lead to personal and professional growth.
Is it better to be confident and wrong, or uncertain and right?
It's better to be uncertain and right. When we're unsure of our abilities or knowledge, we're more likely to seek help, ask questions, and learn. This willingness to learn can lead to personal and professional growth and can help us build stronger relationships with others.

Conclusion

Confidence is not always a bad thing, but it can be when it's based on ignorance. When we're unaware of our limitations, we can become overconfident, which can lead to poor decision-making, missed opportunities, and stunted growth. By acknowledging our ignorance and embracing a growth mindset, we can begin to close the gap between our confidence and competence. So, the next time you're feeling confident, take a step back and ask yourself if you're as knowledgeable as you think you are. The answer might surprise you.