What Is Your Story?

In order to understand what Culture of Confidence is, we first must consider what ‘confidence’ means.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines confidence as a feeling or consciousness of one's powers or of reliance on one's circumstances; faith or belief that one will act in a right, proper, or effective way. 

Confidence is also defined as the quality or state of being certain, a relation of trust or intimacy, or reliance on another's discretion (eg: their story was told in strictest confidence).

 
“Self-efficacy… the most central belief driving individual success.
People who believe they can succeed see opportunities, where others see threats.
They are not afraid of uncertainty or ambiguity, they embrace it.
They take more risks and achieve greater returns. Given the choice, they bet on themselves.”
– Marshall Goldsmith, “The Success Delusion”

Overconfidence is not necessarily a bad thing. However, a basketball player or athlete must strike the right balance between confidence and humility. Fostering a culture of confidence means:

1. Setting reasonable expectations. Be ambitious and driven, give maximum effort, and have a strong work ethic.

2. Not being afraid to fail or lose. Retrain the brain on how to interpret failure and fear.

3. Focusing on learning from your failures. Make notes on lessons learned during times of failure or loss.

4. Being mentally tough. Understand that losing is an inescapable part of sport and that you will not make every shot, lay-up, floater, or free throw that you attempt.

5. Being a team player. Understand that team sports are exactly that. Team culture is important – it can either bring a team together or destroy it. Together Everyone Achieves Much. Keep a team-first mentality and realize that the game is much bigger than YOU, but not bigger than US.

6. Not being afraid to speak up. Understand that you only get better as an athlete if you ask questions. Ensure that this is done in a respectful manner, have the wherewithal and passion for the game, improve oneself and learn constantly (BE A SPONGE – knowledge is power!)

7. Being open and confident with your family. Understand that your journey as an athlete could not happen alone. Your parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and friends all play a role in shaping your athletic career. Being open means communicating the things that are going on in your life (such as fears, frustrations, goals, academics, etc.). This will ensure that you, the student-athlete, have the support necessary to tackle everyday life – both on and off the court.

8. Trust. Trusting your teammates and Coaches on and off the court, as well as your family (eg: you trust that by making the extra pass to an open teammate, that he/she will make the shot; trust that if you confide in your Coach about any issue, that he/she will help and guide you).

These are just a few ways in which one can shape their own confidence. Realize that your story is just one part of many while understanding that everyone else has a story of their own. 

What is your story? What does Culture of Confidence mean to you? Join our movement and tell your story. Be sure to tag us @f.o.r.m._basketball on Instagram and use the following:

#CultureOfConfidence #FORMFam

Click below to watch our Culture of Confidence video and to see some stories! Follow us on Instagram @f.o.r.m._basketball - Twitter @FORMBasketball - Facebook or click below