Navigating Self-Confidence: How Do You Distinguish It from Overconfidence or Underconfidence?

Understanding Self-Confidence vs. Over/Underconfidence

Can anybody mark a line between self-confidence and over/underconfidence? How and when can we say that we are self-confident and over/underconfident? What is that thin line between both? Your views will be highly appreciated.

Thanks!
Manish

I am competent enough to do the job - self-confidence. I am only competent enough to do the job - overconfidence. Now you can know the difference.

Regards, Pon

Hi Manish,

Self-confidence - Confidence in oneself, faith in your abilities and judgment. The body language of people with self-confidence generally speaks about their attitude - head held high and shoulders back.

Low self-confidence or underconfidence is present in individuals who are insecure, do not trust anyone, constantly doubt themselves, exhibit submissive behavior, and are oversensitive to any form of criticism.

Overconfidence is an excess of confidence and generally carries a negative connotation. While self-confidence is a strength, both being underconfident and overconfident are weaknesses.

Regards,

Thanks! But how and when can we say, "I am competent enough to do the job"?

Developing Competence and Confidence

You should have the urge to take up the assignment and complete it. At the same time, you should also have knowledge about the job you are going to handle. Only then does confidence develop.

Dear Manish,

Confidence is a result of competence. To check what competence the person has, put him/her to the test. Competence will come out.

Confidence is also a result of awareness of others' capacities. Mahatma Gandhi was completely confident in self-rule. He had tremendous confidence in the capabilities of Indians. Hence, he took up the movement of Swaraj.

Confidence is also a result of self-awareness. Self-awareness means how much a person knows about himself or herself. For this, it is better to conduct SWOT analysis, 360-degree feedback, Johari window, etc.

Many of our decisions are based on limited knowledge of ourselves. Many times we feel that we can do something, but we can't, and many times we feel that we cannot do something, but we are capable of doing it.

Self-awareness is a great virtue. It won't come easily. However, one can look at one's successes or failures of the recent past. This introspection also helps in generating confidence.

Ok...

Dinesh V Divekar

I don't believe there is anything like overconfidence or underconfidence. It is either you are confident or not. Confidence is belief in oneself and is relative to every human being. We are all made differently, with diverse personalities, so what some may call underconfidence is actually a high level of confidence for others. Bottom line, confidence is belief in yourself, and only you can either increase or decrease the potential of that confidence.

Hello Manish,

Dinesh V Divekar has put it very nicely to answer your query regarding "how and when we can say that 'I am competent enough to do the job'?"

An important aspect/factor/trait of a self-confident person is not just the knowledge about what he/she can do [competence], but also what he/she cannot do—basically his/her limitations. Such a person, if given a task that he/she knows is beyond his/her present understanding/capability, there wouldn't be any hesitation to say: NO, I can't do it.

I agree with Archna's remarks: self-confidence is a quality/strength; both being under and overconfident is a weakness. But while under-confidence can be corrected relatively easily (all it would need is a few doses of 'motivation' regularly for some time), it takes a lot more to correct overconfidence—since quite often overconfidence leads to arrogance, which is almost impossible to correct unless the individual concerned himself/herself realizes it and cooperates in the process.

Regards,
TS

Dear,

There is dialogue in the film "GHAJINI."

THERE IS LITTLE DIFFERENCE IN SELF-CONFIDENCE AND OVERCONFIDENCE.

Self-Confidence: I can do this.
Overconfidence: Only I can do this.

I think it is the right way to know the difference between self-confidence and overconfidence.

Thanks,
Purushottam Dass Matta
Sr. Executive (Admin & HR)
Email: pdmatta@gmail.com
Phone: 9352331667

When one has belief in himself that "Yes, I can do it," then it is confidence. But when someone says, "nobody except me can do this," keeping in view his or her competence level, and then unable to perform, and then even after the failure, he says, "I would have done it, but because of that..." - Permeshwernath

Difference Between Self-Confidence and Overconfidence

What is the difference between self-confidence and overconfidence? I can answer this question - self-confidence. I am the only person who knows the answer to this question - overconfidence. This can be taken as an example for your question.

Regards,
Prasanth

Well, confidence for me is when I'm myself. Overconfidence is something I'm not and trying to pretend, whereas underconfidence is when I'm asking myself again and again if I would really be able to do this thing.

Having said that, I think one may not relate defining confidence with body language, because it's a side effect rather than the core issue.

Also, I believe we can use underconfidence and overconfidence to help us. Though this is quite arguable, I think we can use everything to pave our way. I have experienced this personally. If anybody is interested, then only I'll post it because I think this might be an irrelevant post to comment on this topic.

The difference between genuine confidence and over-confidence is significant. Genuine confidence is not about pride and arrogance; it is simply an honest recognition of our inherent capabilities.

I am a Math teacher at http://www.ibworldacademy.com