Jocko Willink - Navy Seal (DOAC)
"Using Work to Regulate Confidence" is a concept that includes assigning controlled challenges to an individual to help them develop or regulate their confidence. The process entails assigning tasks that the individual can handle and gradually making these tasks more complex as their confidence grows. The success in completing these tasks contributes significantly to the building of self-confidence. For someone with low confidence, starting with simpler tasks provides an opportunity to experience success and enhance their self-belief. On the other hand, for someone who is too confident, assigning them a complex task can serve as a reality check, helping them understand their limits and adjust their confidence level accordingly. This approach underlines the importance of personal responsibility and self-belief in not only building confidence but also in ensuring a balanced ego.
Take, for example, a young officer in the SEAL teams who may feel uncertain about his capabilities. He may have barely completed his training and might feel that he got lucky. When he is given the responsibility of leading a squad, his hesitation during decision-making moments could potentially lower his confidence even further.
To help him build his confidence, you can begin by assigning him tasks that he can handle. This might start with relatively simple responsibilities, such as holding a flank along with his squad while the rest of the team carries out a more intricate operation. He might repeat this task several times. With each successful completion, his confidence may see a slight improvement. As he becomes comfortable with this task, you can slowly increase the complexity of it, such as assigning him the responsibility of handling security to the north and west with two squads. As he successfully navigates these challenges, his confidence will continue to grow. However, if he experiences failure, it might be necessary to assign him simpler tasks again and start the process of building his confidence from scratch.
Dealing with someone who is overly confident requires a different approach. Let's consider an overconfident officer who believes he should be in charge. In such a case, you might assign him the task of leading an entire assault team. This is a complicated task that he might not be prepared for, and when he fails to achieve the desired success, it will serve as a wake-up call, helping him realize his limitations and adjust his confidence level accordingly.