Confidence

Thursday 19th November 2009

Peer Independence is the quality which enables you to hold a position which is contrary to the consensus. It is related to moral courage and integrity.
A person with a high level of peer independence has a high degree of resistance to peer pressure. They do not readily follow a crowd unless there is reason to do so; they have the courage to state unpopular truths and are free to develop independent lines of reasoning. High levels of peer independence coupled with other dimensions of confidence can be highly influential in developing leadership characteristics.

You can’t be a leader if you’re easily led. Everyday personal and business life demands many instances of quiet leadership, whether influencing others, or simply choosing to direct our own actions.
If you wish to advance your career, you need to be comfortable with doing more than your peers, and more importantly doing it better than them. Even modest ambition requires strength, to resist the pressure to conform to social norms. If you wish to find a life partner you may need to break out of a social ‘rut’ if you want promotion in your job or branch out on your own in business you will need to explore life in a more adventurous manner by being “Pro-Active”. Followers don’t have adventures; they wait for invitations they are “Re-Active”.
In order for your life to become more of an adventure, you need to free yourself from the restraining influence of friends, family, colleagues, from the “Negaholics” as I call them in your life. Their life patterns and choices need not define yours. A peer independent person is able to enjoy friendships and love without losing their individuality.