Confidence Isn't What You're Missing

Episode 47: Confidence Isn't What You're Missing I want to talk about two words I hear women in leadership use interchangeably ALL THE TIME. Confidence and self-trust. Because they're not the same thing. And I think understanding the difference can completely change how you make decisions, navigate uncertainty, and lead your life. Confidence is believing you can do something. Self-trust is believing that even when you don't know exactly how something will turn out, you can handle whatever happens next. Here's the problem I see with so many accomplished, high-achieving women. We're used to being good at what we do. We're used to having the answers, solving the problems, and knowing how to move forward. But what happens when we're faced with something we've NEVER done before? We start questioning ourselves. Am I qualified? Am I ready? What if I make the wrong decision? What if this doesn't work out? And suddenly, we're waiting for confidence before we're willing to take action. But confidence often comes AFTER action, not before it. In this solo episode of This Wasn't My Plan, I'm breaking down the difference between clarity, confidence, and self-trust, and why confusing these three things can keep you stuck in a life or career that no longer reflects what you actually want. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN - The difference between confidence and self-trust - Why uncertainty doesn't mean you're incapable - How clarity helps you make decisions without letting fear make them for you - Why waiting to feel ready can keep you stuck - How a lack of self-trust creates decision-making bottlenecks in leadership - Why following through on small commitments builds self-trust - How to move forward without knowing exactly how everything will turn out HERE'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER Clarity is knowing what you want, why it matters, and what you're willing or unwilling to do to get it. Confidence is believing you have the ability to do something. Self-trust is believing you can navigate whatever happens along the way. You can be clear about what you want and still be scared to pursue it. That doesn't mean you're making the wrong decision. And it doesn't mean you need to wait until you're more confident. MY QUESTION FOR YOU What decision are you delaying because you don't feel ready or confident enough? And if you trusted yourself to handle whatever happened next, what would you do differently? Confidence says, "I've got this." Self-trust says, "And if I don't, I'll figure it out anyway." I'll take self-trust over confidence any day of the week. ABOUT ASHLEE Ashlee Klevens Hayes, PharmD, MHA, is a leadership strategist, executive advisor, entrepreneur, and host of This Wasn't My Plan. She helps experienced women leaders communicate with clarity, make confident decisions, and lead with intention. CONNECT WITH ASHLEE Website: https://www.rxashlee.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleeklevenshayes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rxashleehayes/ THE CLARITY LAB January 28–29, 2027 | Orange County, California A private, two-day leadership retreat for accomplished women who are ready to get clear on what they want and decide what they're going to do about it. https://www.rxashlee.com/thelab KEYWORDS Confidence vs self-trust, building self-trust, leadership clarity, decision-making, women in leadership, overcoming self-doubt, personal growth, executive leadership, confidence, leadership development