Why Action Comes Before Assurance for SIDs
Confidence is one of the most misunderstood concepts in professional development—especially early in an SID’s career.
Many believe confidence is something you feel before you act.
In reality, confidence is something you earn after you act.
This misunderstanding keeps capable professionals stuck, waiting for a feeling that only arrives through experience.
The Confidence Myth in Athletic Communications
In athletics communications, uncertainty is constant:
New responsibilities
High-visibility mistakes
Competing expectations from coaches and administrators
Public scrutiny with little margin for error
It is easy to assume that confident SIDs simply feel more prepared.
They do not.
They have simply acted enough times in uncomfortable situations to trust themselves.
Confidence is not a prerequisite for leadership—it is the byproduct.
Action Creates Evidence
Confidence grows when you collect evidence.
Evidence looks like:
Handling a difficult postgame situation professionally
Managing a crisis communication calmly
Making a decision without full clarity and adjusting effectively
Standing by a standard when pressure pushes back
Each action becomes proof that you can operate under stress.
Waiting for confidence delays this evidence. Acting creates it.
Why Hesitation Feels Safer (But Isn’t)
Hesitation often disguises itself as caution.
In reality, hesitation usually stems from fear:
Fear of being wrong
Fear of criticism
Fear of exposure
Ironically, prolonged hesitation increases anxiety. The situation does not disappear—it lingers.
Foundational Comfort allows SIDs to move forward despite discomfort, knowing that growth requires repetition, not perfection.
Confidence Is Context-Specific
Confidence is not global. It is situational.
An SID may feel confident in game notes but uncertain in crisis communication. Comfortable with statistics but hesitant in leadership conversations.
That is normal.
The solution is not waiting—it is targeted action.
Confidence in any area is built by:
Entering the situation
Executing the process
Reviewing what worked and what did not
Repeat this cycle enough times, and confidence follows.
Foundational Comfort Fuels Action
Foundational Comfort does not eliminate doubt.
It allows action in the presence of doubt.
SIDs with Foundational Comfort understand:
Feeling unsure does not mean being unprepared
Discomfort is not danger
Mistakes are part of development, not disqualifiers
This mindset creates momentum.
Momentum builds confidence faster than reassurance ever could.
Question
Confidence is not something you wait for.
It is something you construct through disciplined action.
Ask yourself:
Where am I waiting to feel ready instead of starting?
What small action would create evidence today?
What discomfort am I avoiding that could accelerate growth?
Foundational Comfort is not the absence of doubt.
It is the willingness to move forward anyway.
Reflection: What action will you take today that future confidence will be built upon?
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