Confidence is a crucial trait in managers and leaders alike. It’s also one that has to essentially flow out of a manager. That’s because your subordinates have to notice your confidence, and if you are a genuinely confident leader, you will exude it.
Elon Musk knows this well, which is why he is a successful leader and a great manager to the various companies he owns. Unlike other billionaire entrepreneurs, Musk leads several businesses, and he splits his time between them. Many people would fall behind and let some of their projects fail, but not Musk, and his confidence plays a significant role in this.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the tips he has for managers to learn and exude confidence:
Tips from Elon Musk
To exude confidence, you must be resilient and not overconfident. The two might seem like apples and apples, but in fact, they are quite different. Overconfidence is usually apparent, and people rarely respect it. However, resilience is always admired, as it builds trust in times of trouble.
Musk himself has shown this with Tesla. Many times he has said that, in the beginning, he didn’t believe his company would succeed. That didn’t turn him defensive and act overconfident to boost morale. Instead, he worked hard to make the company work and proved his ability to recover quickly from defeats – he was resilient. Now, several years later, Tesla has reached the success he never even dreamed could occur.
That’s precisely what every great manager needs to do as well. However, there is more. Musk has several important pieces of advice for managers we believe matter considerably if you’re going to exude confidence and become a successful manager:
- Never fear failure – welcome it and learn from it. It’s a necessary part of innovation and the way companies can move forward.
- Musk always says that many people only choose to be ordinary. They are not made to be so. The same goes for managers. You need to work on being extraordinary and defy the norms. Your subordinates will only see confidence if you’re like this.
- Confidence doesn’t mean being stubborn. If you make a mistake, you need to admit it and own it. Your subordinates will respect you even more if you can take criticism. If you already believe in feedback loops like Musk, you shouldn’t ignore it when you get it.
- Take a good look at Musk’s 11 tips on management. Not all are about confidence, but they are bound to give you what you need to start exuding confidence as a manager.
Key Takeaways
Elon Musk has proven over and over that he is a natural-born leader and one that truly shows how managers and leaders can be the same. Thinking about the advice he gives can be helpful for managers to become more confident and better at what they do.
If you want to become a better manager, you should take a look at the Effective Organization Program we offer. Contact us to learn more!
