Over/Under Confidence Screening
Not everyone is realistic about their abilities. Those that are, know their limitations and are a sound investment for any business.  That's because they are very good at anticipating the possible pitfalls or problems involved in the decisions they make, they check their work for errors and ask questions when they encounter things they don't understand.  They don't need close supervision and don't waste valuable management time.


What's the problem with being over-confident?

Over-confident people think they are a lot smarter than they actually are. They highly over-rate their problem solving abilities and confidently put forward answers to problems, believing they are right, when in fact they are wrong.

In the workplace, over-confident people may have blind faith in their ability and may 'jump in' without fully appreciating the potential negative outcomes of their decisions.  Their mistakes and poor choices can cost their employers dearly.

What these people lack is metacognition, a term psychologists use to describe self monitoring ability. It determines the extent to which they check their thinking before acting, and seek help and clarification in making decisions.


What's the problem with being under-confident?

Under-confident people are at the other end of the spectrum. They under-rate their true abilities and lack faith in their decision-making capabilities. They can also be a problem for employers because they don't trust their judgment and are overly cautious in making decisions under pressure.

Screening for under-confidence is just as important as screening for over-confidence, amongst people of all ability levels.