Is confidence more important than competence?

Has this ever happened to you? A colleague becomes your boss, even though s/he lacks your talent, ability and work ethic. You sit there and silently seethe, as you grow accustomed to answering to a lesser professional.

It’s your fault.

In the battle between competence and confidence, the latter wins nearly every time. For all of you who believe that competence is everything, listen carefully:

Competence is NOT enough.

It is nearly impossible to earn a position of great responsibility without being highly confident. Would you feel safe in the care of a physician who doubted his or her own judgment? Of course not.

The same is true for those who make decisions about whom to promote. Why give responsibility for a sales force – or manufacturing plant – to a professional who lacks confidence?

I can already hear those of you who disagree, saying… competence is everything… substance over superficiality… don’t talk a big game, just deliver.

The truth is, I agree with these statements. But competence isn’t enough.

To those of you who believe you are highly competent but admit that you also lack confidence, I have one thing to tell you:

Build your confidence, whatever it takes.

It is irrational to simultaneously believe you are more competent than a peer but act less confident than s/he does.

It is irrational to be proud of your performance but hesitant to act that way.

It is irrational to allow less-qualified professionals to have more responsibility than you do, simply because you don’t feel comfortable holding your head up high.

Make no mistake, without confidence, much of your competence will go wasted. It’s time to make certain that doesn’t happen.

Build your confidence, no matter what the price. The world needs more people who are both confident and competent, and I know one thing for certain:

Incompetent confident people are never going to get more competent. If you are competent, it’s up to YOU to grow more confident.

This article is published in collaboration with LinkedIn. Publication does not imply endorsement of views by the World Economic Forum.

To keep up with the Agenda subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Author: Bruce Kasanoff is a ghostwriter for entrepreneurs.

Image: Pedestrians cross a road at Tokyo’s business district. REUTERS/Yuya Shino.