There's a fine line between confidence and arrogance. This is especially true given both entail a strong belief in one's own abilities. When it comes to the responses they provoke, however, that's where the similarities end.
Confidence is inspiring; arrogance is a turn-off.
Confidence gets hired; arrogance is shown the door.
Building confidence takes work; arrogance is simple.
In fact, it's easy to come off as arrogant.
Avoid these behaviors so you don't leave the impression of being a Class-A jerk people would rather avoid instead of the confident leader they want to follow.
1. Openly ask for feedback. Confident leaders are constantly looking to find out what they can improve upon. Therefore, they actively solicit feedback from ALL levels in the organization.
2. Be willing to take an unpopular stand. Great leaders look to be respected by others. They don’t seek to be liked by all because they realize that, at times, the decisions they have to make will not be the ones everyone will agree with or like.
3. Don’t show off. Top leaders realize that their value is in drawing the best in all around them. They don’t show off or try to make themselves stand out as wonderful to anyone.
4. Own the consequences of your decisions. Great leaders absorb the blame and share the fame. They take ownership of what wrong.
Some business leaders are unquestionably arrogant — people whom you may have heard about or even for whom you have worked. Be a leader people want to follow and not one people would rather avoid.
