We all know that knowledge is a critical part of performance. Doctors, engineers, programmers, and electricians need technical knowledge to do their work. That knowledge is often easy to verify: degrees, licenses, and certifications.
But having the credentials is one thing. Performing with confidence, energy, and purpose is another.
At InsideOut Development, we talk about this through our GROW Coaching® Model and, more specifically, the Performance Wheel®. It includes four core components: Knowledge, Faith, Fire, Focus.
Why Faith Matters
Leaders can help their teams grow by taking an Outside-In approach (telling) or an InsideOut approach (coaching). When we take the InsideOut route — drawing out ideas and insight — we build more than just knowledge. We strengthen Faith, Fire, and Focus, too.
These inner elements are what determine how well we use knowledge. Let’s explore just one of them: Faith.
Faith, in this context, isn’t religious. It’s what we believe about ourselves, and it shows up as self-confidence, courage, and composure under pressure.
For leaders, it also shows up as a belief in the people around us. And that belief, whether in ourselves or others, profoundly impacts performance.
Faith in Self: The Inspiring Story of Susan Boyle
Take the story of Susan Boyle on Britain’s Got Talent.
Before she sang a note, the audience and judges dismissed her. She didn’t “look the part.” Her answers to questions were a bit awkward. The tone was clear: this would be a joke, until she opened her mouth.
As she sang “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables, the crowd was stunned. Some cried, some cheered. That performance became the most-watched YouTube video of the year, with over 120 million views. Why? Because we love it when someone who seems an unlikely candidate bets on themselves and wins.
Susan didn’t let pressure, judgment, or expectations shake her. She didn’t seem to entertain the idea of failure. She had faith in herself, and she nailed it.
As Alan Fine writes in You Already Know How to Be Great, “Faith is about belief. And put simply, belief drives behavior … and because what we do leads to the results we get in our lives, beliefs also drive results.”
Faith in Others: Penny Marshall’s Bet on Mark Wahlberg
Of course, faith in ourselves is powerful. But what happens when someone else believes in us before we believe in ourselves?
Consider Penny Marshall and Mark Wahlberg. When Penny met Mark, he was still known as “Marky Mark,” a rapper, not an actor.
She asked why he wasn’t acting. He replied, “I’m not an actor.” But she saw something in him. She rehearsed scenes with him, gave him his first acting role in Renaissance Man, and helped him begin to see himself differently.
Mark said, “Without her support and encouragement, I would not be where I am today.” Penny saw beyond what he was known for and believed in who he could become.
Now, think of your own experience. Have you ever had a leader who doubted you? It likely made you hesitant, anxious, or small.
But what about the opposite — when someone had your back, believed in your potential, and encouraged you to stretch? That kind of faith is rocket fuel.
Faith and the InsideOut Mindset™
We call this the InsideOut Mindset, the belief that everyone has the capacity to learn and perform at a higher level. Great leaders hold this belief, which shows up in how they coach, communicate, and challenge their teams.
To illustrate this mindset perfectly, consider a scene from Apollo 13, when Jim Lovell’s wife tells his mother that something has gone wrong with the shuttle.
Jim’s mother asks her granddaughter, “Are you scared?” She then goes on to say, “Well, don’t you worry, honey. If they could get a washing machine to fly, my Jimmy could land it.” That’s faith.
Do you have that kind of belief in your people? What difference would it make if you did?
Ready to Strengthen Faith in Yourself and Inspire It in Others?
Great leadership starts with belief: in your purpose, your people, and your own potential. When you lead with confidence, you inspire it in others, unlocking trust, growth, and extraordinary performance. Explore tools to elevate your leadership now.