OVERCONFIDENCE: THE SEDUCTOR THAT DESTROYS LIVES~Chiwuike Uba
Recently, the Bishop of Nike Diocese (Anglican Communion), the Rt. Rev’d Dr. Christian Onyeka Onyia in his sermon said that most people who live in absolute arrogance and pride, celebrate these vices on the camouflage that, what they have is ‘overconfidence.’ He concluded that overconfidence is the baptismal name for arrogance and pride. I cannot agree less with the Bishop on this ‘discovery’. Overconfidence reflects clearly in the ‘I’ syndrome. Most people suffering from the ‘overconfidence’ disease speak more about themselves-exploits, successes, capabilities, etc, and attributes whatever achievements they have to themselves. They are known to freely ask the question “do you know who I am?’. If you want to know a man with overconfidence, please read the ‘parable of the rich fool’ in the Bible.
Confidence in general is not all bad because it acts as an enabler, a motivator to risk-taking that facilitates growth and prosperity. Being confident fosters social status, credibility, influence, and deters unnecessary competition. It is a necessary quality for any leader. However, when confidence oversteps and veers into overconfidence, it usually punctures the credibility and influence profile of the leader. Let me state this: everybody is a leader. Whereas self-confidence breeds and sustains our lives with joys, abundance, and accomplishments, overconfidence naturally leads to dangerous situations, one capable of damaging us both personally (physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual) and professionally, with consequential collateral damage to our families, colleagues, and networks. Therefore, finding the balance between leveraging the benefits of acting confidently and avoiding the dangers of overconfidence becomes very crucial. I situate this balance on what I term, ‘learning the right lessons, and avoiding the wrong lessons’. Achieving this balance requires humility, patience, and respect. I am not referring to manipulative humility, patience, love, and respect but real and sincere humility.
People suffering from the ‘overconfidence’/or ‘I’ syndrome misjudge their value, opinion, beliefs, or abilities and have more confidence than they should, given the objective parameters of the situation. As a result of overconfidence, people experience avoidable problems because they are either not properly prepared or not equipped to handle a situation. Jim Woods in one of his articles says that “just because you were right a few times doesn't mean you'll be right again." Despite the seductive nature of overconfidence, it does not last because it disappears as soon as things go wrong. When objectively tested, overconfidence loses its shine, because it is predicated on faulty assessments, unrealistic expectations, and hazardous decisions. Unfortunately, some people still overlook results in favour of keeping the overconfident person on a pedestal. This may be due to the seductive nature of overconfident people. They are the empty barrels that make the loudest noise. Overconfidence manifests in three ways: over-estimation (thinking that you are better than you actually are), over-placement (thinking that you are better than others when you are not), and over-precision (being too sure you know ‘the truth’). Always ask yourself if a task feels too easy, if you are really in control, and finally, listen to the humbling evidence.
Many of us are taking unnecessary risks, unable to see and accept our mistakes, blaming others, refused to learn, unlearn and relearn, refused to listen to advice, inaccurate predictions, and taking almost everything for granted as a result of overconfidence. Growing up, I read an inscription on a Peugeot pick-up van written as *'Onye di otu odi, ibe ya ma’*. This literally means that we all know ourselves irrespective of the cover-ups and pretenses. An overconfident person is likened to a man on going a long trip without a map and who refused to ask for directions even when it is evident that he has lost his way. Destruction becomes the endpoint! Examples ab
ound of situations where people believe they are more intelligent, capable, or better equipped for a situation than they are. Painfully, irrespective of the negative consequences, most overconfident people always insist they are right, they take foolish mistakes from thinking they know everything, and never change their views.
In addition to always asking yourself if a task feels too easy, if you are really in control and finally, listen to the humbling evidence, it is important to get periodic feedback from an accountability partner or someone you respect to keep your confidence levels in balance. It is also important that overconfidence is a vice and that we might not know much; hence, the need to consult, cooperate, communicate, and collaborate with others through brainstorming and other strategies. It is an important step towards helping us get a better perspective on our situation and what solutions available. As we read in the parable of the rich fool, he credited all his achievements to himself. That is the attitude of most of us these days. It is important to recognize that all we have and may have achieved were because of God’s mercies and grace. “So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.” Be careful not to credit yourself too much when you are successful. Always remember that you are who you because of God’s mercy. In fact, you are just lucky! This does not in any preclude the need to work hard. However, just know that without God, your hard work will not mean much either. Finally, be prepared for failure. Most overconfident people have no room for failure in their diary. Failure and/or a mistake are some of the best teachers. Confident people learn from their mistakes and work so hard not to repeat the failures/mistakes. I repeat, don’t be seduced by the destroyer, overconfidence. You are not God and can never be God.
Dr. Chiwuike Uba
+234 803 309 5266
