Confidence seems elusive. We do something that comes easily and we don’t think twice about it. Or we try something new, experience setbacks, and question our capabilities. It leaves us thinking that confidence is something other people just seem to have. All the time.

Performance psychologist Nate Zinsser knows that’s just not true.

For decades he’s been working with Olympians, professional athletes, military leaders, and other high performers in his role as Director of West Point's Performance Psychology Program. What he’s learned is that confidence is something we need to build, protect, and practice. In his book, The Confident Mind: A Battle-Tested Guide to Unshakable Performance, he shares the methods he’s developed to help us do just that.

Reading Nate’s book helped me realize just how many misconceptions we have about confidence. And they’re the kind of misconceptions that can really hold us back. I think you’ll enjoy the interview and I know you’ll learn a lot from the book.

Episode Links

How I Avoid Burnout: A West Point Performance Psychologist

A Psychologist Who Helps West Point Cadets Develop Mental Strength Shares 3 of His Best Tips

Plateaus, Dips, and Leaps: Where to Look for Inventions and Discoveries During Skilled Performance

When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin Labatut

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Learn more about host, Gayle Allen, and producer, Rob Mancabelli, here.

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CM 231: Nate Zinsser on Building Your Confidence – Encore

Curious Minds at Work