The 4-Step Confidence Framework: From Clarity to Momentum

"Confidence isn’t something you’re born with - it’s something you build"

Confidence came through again and again in the responses to my recent survey.
Or more accurately, a lack of confidence.

Not feeling sure of yourself.
Second-guessing decisions.
Feeling stuck, hesitant, or frustrated in your career or life.

So in this episode of Career Clarity Insights, I wanted to slow this down and look at confidence properly - what it actually is, why it matters more than we realise, and how you can actively build it, rather than waiting for it to magically appear.

Because confidence is not your personality. It is not about being charismatic, having all the answers, or being the loudest person in the room.

Confidence, at its core, is self-trust.

It is trusting that you can figure things out as you go, cope when things do not go to plan, and adapt when circumstances change. Every single person you admire has had moments of doubt. The difference is not that they felt confident first, but that they learned how to build it over time.

The Four-Step Confidence Framework

In this episode, I share a framework I use both personally and in my coaching work, which I call the Four-Step Confidence Framework:

Clarity → Confidence → Action → Momentum

This is not a one-off process. It is a loop you move through again and again.

Confidence rarely comes before clarity. When you know what matters to you right now, even loosely, your brain has something to focus on. That clarity makes it easier to take action, and action creates evidence. Evidence builds confidence, and confidence creates momentum.

Without clarity, your mind spins round and round, decisions can feel overwhelming, options blur together, and confidence naturally drops.

Three Common Confidence Scenarios

I also walk through three situations I see repeatedly.

1. When you do not know what you want
Many people feel trapped not because they chose the wrong career, but because they cannot see a way forward. When clarity is missing, confidence collapses. In this episode, I talk about how committing to exploration - trying a small number of defined options - gives your brain structure and something to move towards.

2. When self-doubt shows up in a new role or situation
Confidence often dips during transitions, even for highly capable people. I share how to reconnect with past evidence, challenge worst-case thinking, and remind yourself that learning, asking questions, and adapting are not weaknesses - they are how confidence is built.

3. When confidence has never felt like your strength
This is where I bring in Einstein’s famous quote about judging a fish by its ability to climb a tree. Sometimes confidence struggles are not about you at all, but about being in the wrong environment. Alignment matters more than force.

Confidence Is Built, Not Discovered

If there is one thing to take from this episode, it is this:

Confidence is not something you wait for.
It is something you build.

Clarity gives direction.
Action creates evidence.
Momentum keeps you moving forward.

And over time, self-trust grows.

If this episode resonated with you, you can listen now and follow Career Clarity Insights on Spotify to continue the conversation around clarity, confidence, and building a career and life that genuinely works for you.

Always with love, 

Elsa x

Below is the transcript from this episode.

The 4-Step Confidence Framework: From Clarity to Momentum

Introduction

Hello and welcome to Career Clarity Insights. I’m Elsa Hogan, and this is where I share reflections and practical ideas to help you build a career and life that you love.

Today, I want to talk about confidence.

Last month, I sent out a short survey to better understand what you are really struggling with right now in your career and your life. Confidence came through again and again as one of the strongest themes — or perhaps more accurately, a lack of confidence.

So in this episode, I want to unpack confidence. I’ll share what confidence actually is, why it matters more than we often realise, and how you can actively build it. I’ll also talk through a few common scenarios I see all the time, from not knowing what you want, to the self-doubt that shows up when you start a new role, and finally what to consider if confidence has never really felt like your strong point.

What Confidence Really Is (and Isn’t)

Let’s start by redefining confidence.

Confidence is not your personality. It’s not about being charismatic, having all the answers, or being right all the time. Everyone, at some point in their life or career, experiences a lack of confidence.

What confidence really is, in my view, is self-trust. It’s trusting that you can figure things out, that you can cope if things don’t go to plan, and that you can learn and adapt as you go.

This is why confidence is so closely linked to clarity. When you know what you are aiming for — even loosely — and you begin to take action, you start to trust yourself more. When you are unclear about what you want, confidence almost always drops.

The 4-Step Confidence Framework

This brings me to one of the frameworks I use both personally and in my coaching work, which I call the 4-Step Confidence Framework:

Clarity → Confidence → Action → Momentum

Let me walk you through each step.

Step 1: Clarity

Clarity doesn’t mean having your whole career or life mapped out. It means understanding what matters to you right now and what a few next steps could look like.

This might involve asking yourself what’s working in your life and career, what feels right, what you want more of, and what you want less of. Without clarity, your mind has nothing to anchor to. Decisions feel overwhelming, options blur together, and confidence drops because you are constantly questioning yourself.

Clarity gives your brain direction, even if you’re not fully sure where the destination is yet.

Step 2: Confidence

Once you have clarity about what you want more of or something you want to move towards, confidence starts to build.

No matter how big the goal, it can be broken down into meaningful, bite-sized chunks. That sense of direction helps you trust yourself more and stops you feeling like you’re reacting to life rather than shaping it.

I’ve felt this myself. During times when I’ve been directionless, my confidence has absolutely dropped. In contrast, in 2024 my overarching intention was “feel the fear and do it anyway.” That was the year I launched my coaching business, built my website, and started showing up online. I had no idea what I was doing, and I was nervous about what people would think, but having clarity made it easier to take small, manageable steps.

Step 3: Action

Action comes after clarity and growing confidence.

This is where you begin testing things and exploring options. Progress doesn’t need to be dramatic or irreversible. Often it’s the small steps that keep us moving forward.

Using my business launch as an example, I didn’t start by launching a full website. I started by researching hosting platforms, narrowing them down, choosing one within budget, and signing up. Each small action created evidence that I could learn, adapt, and cope — and that reinforced my confidence.

Step 4: Momentum

Momentum is where things begin to flow.

You spend less time overthinking and more time moving forward. Action leads to clarity, clarity deepens confidence, and confidence encourages further action. This is not a one-time achievement — it’s a cycle that strengthens over time.

Applying the Framework: Real-Life Scenarios

If you don’t know what you want

Many people feel trapped or miserable because they’ve invested years in a career that no longer serves them, yet they don’t know what they want instead. In this situation, confidence drops because clarity is missing.

Here, exploration is powerful. Commit to exploring three different options — industries, roles, or paths. Research hours, salaries, responsibilities, and speak to people already doing those jobs. This gives your brain structure and something to focus on without needing to make permanent decisions.

If you’re in a new role or situation

Confidence often dips during transitions, even for capable people. Remind yourself of previous transitions you’ve successfully navigated. Ask yourself what the worst realistic outcome is — and how you could mitigate it. Most fears are far bigger than reality.

Trust your ability to learn, adapt, and ask questions. There is no such thing as a stupid question, no matter your seniority.

If confidence has never felt like your strength

This is where I often return to Einstein’s quote: “If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.”

Many people aren’t lacking confidence — they’re in environments that don’t play to their strengths. If you’ve always felt low in confidence, it’s worth questioning whether your role or environment truly aligns with who you are.

Final Thoughts

Confidence is not something you wait for. It’s something you build.

Clarity gives direction. Confidence grows through trust. Action creates evidence. Momentum keeps you moving forward.

If there’s one thing to take from this episode, it’s this: create time to understand what matters most to you, then give yourself meaningful goals to work towards.

Thank you for listening and reflecting with me. If this episode resonated, make sure to follow the podcast on Spotify so you don’t miss future conversations around clarity, confidence, and building a career and life you genuinely love.

I’ll see you in the next episode.