Hey everyone! I'm Hannah Hally and welcome back to the business book club, where we summarise the best business books in under three minutes. Today, we’re exploring "The Confidence Code" by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman. This book uncovers the science behind confidence and why it’s crucial for success, especially for women in business. Along the way, I’ll share some famous examples of how these principles have been applied. Let’s dive in!

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In The Confidence Code, Katty Kay and Claire Shipman explore why confidence—more than competence—often determines success. They argue that confidence is the key to taking risks, making decisions, and achieving goals, but many women struggle with self-doubt, even when they’re highly qualified. Here’s what the book teaches and how these lessons have been applied by real-world leaders:

Confidence Comes from Action - One of the central ideas is that confidence is not something you’re born with; it’s something you build by taking action. A great example is Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and author of Lean In. Early in her career, Sandberg felt nervous about leadership roles, but she learned to act despite her fears. By stepping up, even when she doubted herself, she built her confidence over time and rose to one of the most powerful positions in tech.

Don’t Wait for Perfection - Kay and Shipman emphasise that women often hold back until they feel 100% ready, while men tend to go for opportunities even if they only meet part of the qualifications. Marissa Mayer, former CEO of Yahoo and one of Google’s earliest employees, exemplified this. When Google first hired her, she didn’t feel completely prepared for the high-stakes job, but she took the leap anyway. Mayer’s ability to push past her desire for perfection helped her make bold decisions and rise quickly in her career.

Failure is Part of Growth - The authors encourage readers to embrace failure as a learning tool. Sara Blakely, the billionaire founder of Spanx, is an iconic example of this. Blakely talks about how, growing up, her father would regularly ask her, “What did you fail at today?” He encouraged her to see failure as a way to grow. This mindset allowed Blakely to take risks, experiment, and push through the inevitable setbacks of building a business.

Confidence and Competence Are Not the Same - Kay and Shipman make a clear distinction between competence (having the skills) and confidence (believing in your ability). Hillary Clinton often reflects on this in her political career. Despite her deep knowledge and experience, Clinton has admitted that she had to work hard to project confidence, especially in the male-dominated world of politics. She recognised that having the right skills isn’t enough if you don’t believe in yourself.

Quiet Confidence is Just as Powerful - Confidence doesn’t always have to be loud or aggressive. The book highlights the importance of “quiet confidence” — a calm, internal sense of belief. Angela Merkel, Germany’s former Chancellor, is a perfect example of this. Known for her reserved, methodical approach, Merkel led Germany through multiple crises with a steady hand. Her quiet confidence allowed her to become one of the world’s most respected leaders.

In short, The Confidence Code reveals that confidence is a choice and a skill you can build through action, self-belief, and learning from failure.

Here are three quick tips on how to apply The Confidence Code principles in your business and personal life:

1. Take Action, Even When You Feel Doubt - Like Sheryl Sandberg, stop waiting until you feel perfectly ready. Challenge yourself to speak up in meetings or go for opportunities, even if you’re not sure you have all the answers. Confidence grows with every step forward.

2.Reframe Failure as Learning - Just like Sara Blakely did, start seeing failure as part of the growth process. After each setback, ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” The more risks you take, the more confident you’ll become.

3. Practice Self-Affirmation - Like Angela Merkel’s quiet confidence, remind yourself of your achievements and strengths. Before important meetings or decisions, reflect on past successes to reinforce your belief in your abilities.

Closing

That’s a wrap on The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman. The key takeaway? Confidence isn’t something you’re born with—it’s built through action, embracing failure, and believing in your abilities, no matter the challenge. From Sheryl Sandberg’s fearless leadership to Sara Blakely’s willingness to fail, we see that confidence is a critical factor for success.

If you found this summary helpful, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit that bell for more insights on top business books. Remember—confidence is a muscle, so keep working it!

Thanks for watching, and see you next time!