Trusting Yourself

My son was telling me about the awesomeness happening in his improv class.

He was so energized, describing the freedom of stepping into a scene with no script, no plan, no predetermined outcome — and trusting himself. And the scariness.

One of the foundational principles of improv is simple:

“Yes, and.”

You accept what is offered.
Then you build from there.

No shutting it down.
No pre-planning your next move while the other person is still speaking.

Just presence. Did I mention he’s an engineer?

He has grown! 

His experience aside, what a great parallel to leadership.

So much of what we call confidence is actually pre-rehearsal. We script our points. Anticipate objections. Plan how the conversation should go.

But that isn’t presence. That’s control.

Improv requires trust.

Trust that you can respond.
Trust that you can recover.
Trust that you can handle whatever emerges. Trust that you can count on yourself. That you have it in you…

And when you stop pre-thinking, you listen differently.

I spoke with a coach friend today who shared something I loved: “When the client stops talking, they begin listening.”

Silence creates awareness.

When we resist the urge to fill space or connect the dots for someone, something powerful happens. They step forward.

In improv, the scene only works when each person carries their own weight.

Leadership is no different.

Confidence isn’t about having the perfect line.

It’s about knowing (and trusting!) you can handle the moment.