Yes, pretend.
There are three benefits that grow from you “acting” confident:
- Attitude follows Behavior: Over time, you become more like you act—self-assured, confident, and convinced of the truth of what you are saying.
- Emotional Contagion: Walk down an airport corridor and smile, and watch people smile back; change your facial expression to a frown, and you will be met with frowns. Act confident, people respond with confidence in you.
- Self-Reinforcing Emotions: if you smile and then others smile, you are more likely to feel happy and smile. You may have to act confident and knowledgeable at first, but as others “catch” that feeling, it will be reflected back, making you more confident.
The research is laid out in detail in “Power: Why Some People Have It—And Others Don’t” by Jeffrey Pfeffer. Pfeffer says that in order to be Powerful it is vital that you appear Powerful. In the words of Peter Ueberroth: “Authority is 20 percent given, 80 percent taken.”
Try acting confident for an hour. How does it feel? How do people respond? Try smiling. Do people respond with smiles? How do you feel? Have a great weekend.
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