Hi, this is Elisa Likt, and this is Leave Your Mark the podcast, where I brew fresh

career advice with some of my most inspiring and successful friends.

It's professional advice that you can action immediately, whether you're just starting out

in your career or well on your way.

With a massive to-do list and a large cup of coffee, I promise that you can get it all done and still

have time to post about it. Act as if. Act as if. Let's talk about the psychology of stepping

forward before you're ready. Welcome back to Leave Your Mark, everyone. I'm your host, Elisa Lict.

We've all met that person who applies for the job or steps up with only two of 10 qualifications

and somehow gets it. Why do they believe they can when others with more experience hold back?

Today we're talking about the psychology of acting as if, why confidence can sometimes be built in motion, not before.

This episode isn't about imposter syndrome. It's about what drives some people to take a leap

without hesitation while others wait until they're 100%

prepared. And most importantly, how you can use this psychology to your advantage in your own career.

Why acting as if works? Well, acting as if taps into a powerful truth.

People respond more strongly to perceived confidence than to quiet confidence.

I'm going to repeat that because it's really important.

Acting as if taps into a powerful truth.

People respond more strongly to perceived confidence than to quiet competence.

It's not fair, but it's true.

According to research highlighted by the Association for Psychological Science,

individuals who projected confidence were rated by peers as more intelligent, regardless of their actual performance. In other words, people don't just reward skill. They reward the signals of skill.

Neuroscience backs this up. The Hebbian principle, what fires together wires together, shows that behaviors

...