High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset - 729: The Hidden Cost of Low Confidence

Episode Date: February 5, 2026

"Confidence isn't a soft skill—it's a performance multiplier."   Our National Confidence Study revealed a quiet crisis at work: • Nearly 70% of employees battle a harsh inner critic • 62% feel like they're not enough • 63% constantly compare themselves to others   When confidence drops, people second-guess, hold back ideas, avoid responsibility—and 1 in 3 has quit a job because it hurt their confidence.   That's not personal. That's organizational.   Low confidence slows performance, stalls innovation, and quietly drives turnover.   On this episode of The High Performance Mindset, we break down what leaders can do—starting now.   Because confidence doesn't happen by accident. It's built on purpose.   To download our full study report, visit: confidencestudy.com To Request a Free Breakthrough Call with a Mentally Strong Coach, visit: http://www.freementalbreakthroughcall.com/ To learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute, visit: https://mentallystronginstitute.com/ To learn about Dr. Cindra Kamphoff's speaking and coaching, visit: https://cindrakamphoff.com/ To follow Dr. Cindra on Instagram, visit: Cindra Kamphoff, PhD (@cindrakamphoff) • Instagram photos and videos  

Hi, Dr. Cinder Campoff here. Myself and my team just conducted this national research study on confidence that you have to check out. The report which you can download at Confidencestudy.com shows research-backed ways you can grow your confidence, what leaders do to both kill and grow confidence, and how confidence is not just a personal issue, but an organizational issue. I'm telling you, you've got to check this out. It's a game changer. You can find our full report at Confidencestudy.com. It's time to check in with Cinder Campoff today.

And yes, we're going to talk again about the confidence study, the hidden cost of low confidence. So Cinder, start us off with one of your quotes. This is a quote from our white paper, and it goes like this. Confidence is the silent driver behind performance, innovation, and retention. All right. So we're talking about something that most leaders don't see, but it's costing them more than they realize. It's confidence. What did your national study uncover?

Absolutely, Lisa. But, you know, confidence is one of the most powerful drivers of performance and one of the most overlooked barriers at work. In our national confidence study, we actually found 70% of working Americans told us that they dwell on past mistakes and battle a harsh inner critic. And so just trying to, you know, just imagine running a race with waitstrap on your indoles. And that's really what negative self-talk over thinking and self-doubt feel like at work, you know, constantly slowing people down. Well, it's not just mistakes, right? There's something deeper going on. Exactly. You know, our study also found 62% of working Americans say they struggle with feeling like they're not enough. And 63% report frequently comparing themselves to others. And so, you know, just that erosion of self-worth matters because self-worth is just so foundational. It really shapes the physical, making, creativity, our emotional health, and, you know, ultimately, at least our performance. And so when confidence and self-worth slip, we know that, you know, innovation stalls and growth stalls,

and it suffers, and that's really what we want in the workplace is growth and innovation. So, Sandra, talk about the real cost to organizations. What happens when confidence drops? The consequences are both fast and quietly. You know, our research found that 33% of working Americans have quit a job because it was actively hurting their confidence. And that's really where talent, you know, is walking out the door, not because of a lack of skill, but because, you know, their environment has drained their belief. And so we know, for example, when confidence is low, people are far more likely to second-guess themselves, avoid extra responsibilities, hold back their opinions, even procrastinate.

And again, as I mentioned, I consider quitting. And so every, you know, one of these behaviors hits the bottom line. Well, that's kind of staggering. So this isn't just personal. It's organizational. Exactly. So when people hold back their ideas, you know, that's when innovation suffers. And when they procrastinate, that's what productivity solves.

but they don't raise their hand, right? That's when potential goes intact. And so confidence arose. And so retention becomes a serious, you know, problem and expensive problem. And so that's why, you know, turn over, recruiting and onboarding, it all adds up. So people where best people starts with building their confidence so that they can thrive, not just survive. And what is the reflection point for leaders listening to us today? Here's the actual question that we can all think about.

You know, what are, you know, are you aware of really the hidden ways, confidence may be costing your organization and what intentional strategies do you have in place to build and protect the confidence of your people? And the second question worth really sitting on is, you know, what specific steps are you taking to address negative self-talk, you know, the comparison culture, and even imposter syndrome on your team? And so we know confidence doesn't just happen by accident. It shakes leadership behaviors every single day. Such a great, important reminder. What's the power phrase for this week? The power science is this. Confidence isn't a soft skill. It's a performance multiplier.

All right. Now, if people want to read more about the confidence study or learn a little bit more about what it is, your work and your teachings, where do they need to go? You can head over to Dr. Sindra, so b-R-C-I-N-D-R-A.com. And you can find more information there, including our white paper right at the top of the website. Way to go for finishing another episode of the high-performance mindset. I'm giving you a virtual fist pump. Holy cow, did that go by way too fast for anyone else? If you want more, remember to subscribe. And you can head over to Dr. Sindra for show notes and enjoy my exclusive community for high performers, where you get access to videos about mindset each week. So again, you can add over to Dr. Cyndra.com.

See you next week.