6 Qualities Of People Who Are Confident But Not Cocky

6 Qualities Of People Who Are Confident But Not Cocky In a professional environment, it does little good to be a shrinking violet. When trying to grow and advance in your field,you want to put your best foot forward. You want your clients to trust you, you want your peers to respect you and, perhaps most importantly, you want to show your higher-ups why they hired you.You want to showcase your knowledge and experience, while also showing that youre a team player who is an asset in the workplace. However, you dont want to be brash about it. You dont want to be the person garnering groans and eye-rolls whenever you open your mouth. You want your words to carry weight and your actions to be respected.Whether its because youre trying to overcompensate or you just want to be recognized for your achievements, it can be easy to beipass confidence and make a left turn into Smug Town.But being truly confident requires different qualities, ones that cocky people are simply lacking. Below are six traits exhibited by confident people that set them apart.1. Theyre knowledgeable, butknow that they dont know everything.Confident people are secure in their knowledge and abilities, but they accept their limitations Knowing that you dont know everything is half the challenge of being a competent professional. People who are truly confident understand that their knowledge is limited.On the other hand, cocky people are all about showing off what they know and tuning out anything else. Confident people arent concerned with feigning the thin veneer of invincibility. Theyre willing to share their strengths and their weaknesses. As a result, they are more likely to work collaboratively with others and be receptive to their colleagues thoughts, suggestions and constructive criticisms.2. They welcome feedback.Confident people welcome the feedback of others in their field. They listen. They engage. They know they dont have to accept every piece of advice they receive, but they are appre ciative of others insights and experiences.Confident people are secure in their personal and professional identities because they are active participants in their own growth. They are constantly looking to sharpen their skillset, bolster their productivity and turn their weaknesses into strengths. This means that confident people are comfortable with taking an honest look inward and taking stock of where theyve been, where they are and where theyd like to go.No one finds success in a vacuum and confident people know this. Because of this, confident people frequently gain a loyal tribe of positive mentors, trusted colleagues and other individuals whose counsel they trust. Remember no one wants to collaborate with a blowhard.3. They lead from behind.As leaders, confident people arent afraid to let those under their leadership shine. Whereas cocky people may cling fiercely to the front of the pack, showing off their status as frontrunner, confident people are okay letting others take t he reins for a bit.But dont mistake this willingness to momentarily take a backseat as passivity or idleness. Confident leaders know there is value in letting others forge their own paths, build their strengths and make decisions for the team. As opposed to the brash racket of a cocky figurehead, people secure in their role as leader lead with a cool confidence.They arent threatened by the ambitions or talents of others. In fact, they thrive in the company of driven individuals and want to see them succeed. As a result, groups and organizations led by confident individuals are happier, more productive and more successful. 4. They give credit where its due and theyre not afraid to share the spotlight. Because confident people are secure in their identities, they arent afraid of being one-upped or overshadowed. Of course, being human, they want to see their efforts acknowledged and their hard work come to fruition. However, they arent obsessed with their ownsuccess and thats what mak es them successful.If another person comes up with an amazing idea or proposal, confident people dont put a negative spin on it. They arent idea killers. They arent worried that someone elses success will take away from their own. They dont dull others shine. Rather, they know that there is more than enough shine to go aroundand that everyones lives will be brighter because of it.5. They pick their battles.Another difference between confident and cocky individuals is that confident people choose their battles wisely. Even the most casually confident person isnt immune to getting annoyed or intimidated from time to time, particularly in the company of someone whose goal may be to elicit those exact feelings.Still, confident people pick their battles. They dont get riled at the first sign of trouble. They arent immediately reactive. They think before they speak. They remain calm and measured. They dont throw their weight around in the pursuit of justice. Instead, they reach into their diplomatic toolbelt and utilize a frequently underused weapon tact.Confident people are thoughtful and careful. They dont let pride get the best of them, and they understand that while were all sometimes inclined toward fits of ego, we dont need to indulge it at every turn.6. Theyre stealthy.Quietly confident people truly are the ninjas of the professional world. Because they dont need the constant approval of others, they arent interested in broadcasting their every move. While cocky people are busy telling you how good they are and what they can do, a confident person will show up and just show you without showing off.--Candace is a practicing attorney, freelance writer, and a proud mom.