The Confidence Competence Loop – How Action Fuels Belief

by Andrea C. McLean | Feb 20, 2025 | Designing Your Future Self Podcast | 0 comments

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The Confidence Competence Loop – How Action Fuels Belief

The Confidence-Competence Loop is a transformative concept that can help you break free from hesitation and step boldly into your potential. Have you ever held back from taking on a new challenge because you didn’t feel confident enough? Or told yourself you’ll act once you feel more prepared? If so, you’re not alone. This episode explores how confidence isn’t a prerequisite for action—it’s a result of it.

What is the Confidence-Competence Loop?

At its core, the Confidence-Competence Loop works like this:

Action leads to Competence.
Competence builds Confidence.
Confidence fuels more Action.

It’s a continuous cycle that begins with taking action. Whether that action is big or small, the experience helps you grow your skills and develop competence. This, in turn, boosts your confidence, which motivates you to take on even more challenges.

The key takeaway? Waiting to feel confident before taking action is a dead end. The loop starts with action, so the only way to gain confidence is to begin, even if you don’t feel ready.

3 Steps to Leverage the Confidence-Competence Loop

Harnessing the power of the Confidence-Competence Loop isn’t as hard as it sounds. By following these three steps, you can build momentum and cultivate confidence one action at a time.

Step 1: Start Before You Feel Ready

One of the biggest myths about confidence is that you need to feel prepared before you take action. In reality, confidence grows through doing, not waiting. To break through this barrier:

Identify one action you’ve been putting off because you don’t feel ready.
Take the first step, even if it feels uncomfortable or uncertain.

It could be as simple as speaking up in a meeting, applying for a new role, or starting a side project. The important part is to get started, no matter how small the step.

Step 2: Embrace Small Wins

Every action you take, no matter how small, can lead to a win. And every win contributes to your competence and confidence. Instead of focusing only on big milestones, celebrate your incremental progress:

Did you finally raise your hand and share an idea in a group setting?
Did you learn a new software skill?
Did you successfully lead a small project?

These are all wins! Each one reinforces your belief in yourself and strengthens the loop. Recognize and celebrate these moments—they’re stepping stones toward bigger achievements.

Step 3: Reflect and Reinforce

Reflection is the glue that holds the loop together. After each action, take a moment to ask yourself:

What did I learn?
What did I do well?
What could I improve?

This process helps you internalize your growth, recognize your strengths, and identify areas for improvement. Reflection reinforces your progress and prepares you for the next step, keeping the loop moving.

What About Failure?

Failure is a natural part of the Confidence-Competence Loop. It’s easy to see failure as a sign of inadequacy, but in reality, failure is just feedback. It’s an opportunity to learn and adjust.

When you take imperfect action, you build resilience and confidence. The more you embrace failure as part of the process, the stronger and more adaptable you become. Remember, every successful person has faced setbacks; what sets them apart is their ability to learn from those setbacks and keep going.

Your Next Steps

Ready to put the Confidence-Competence Loop into action? Here’s a simple exercise to get you started:

Write down one goal or challenge you’ve been avoiding.
Identify the first small action you can take to move toward that goal.
Decide how you’ll celebrate your progress, no matter how small.

Now, commit to taking that first step this week. Whether it’s sending an email, starting a project, or signing up for a class, action is the catalyst for competence and confidence.

Final Thoughts

The Confidence-Competence Loop is a powerful tool for overcoming hesitation and unlocking your potential. By starting before you feel ready, embracing small wins, and reflecting on your progress, you can create a continuous cycle of growth and confidence. Don’t wait for confidence to find you—take action and let confidence follow. Your future self will thank you!

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Next Episode Teaser:
Join us for the next episode as we explore how to Transform Challenges into Catalysts. See you then!