The Competence You Already Have: Closing the Gap Between Knowing and Acting

October 27, 2026

1:45 pm - 2:45 pm |

You know that odd feeling when you’re pretty sure you know what needs to happen, but somehow can’t quite pull the trigger? Maybe it’s a staffing decision you’ve been thinking about for weeks, or a conversation that needs to happen but keeps getting pushed to next week. This workshop explores what’s happening in that gap—between knowing what to do and feeling able to act on it. We’ll look at the difference between competence (what you actually know and can do) and confidence (that feeling of certainty that makes action feel safer), and why mixing them up can keep capable leaders stuck. The conversation will feel relevant whether you’ve been leading for twenty years or you’re stepping into new responsibility—this particular gap shows up at every level, just wearing different clothes. Rather than waiting for confidence to magically appear before you act, we’ll explore what it might look like to recognize your competence clearly enough that you can move forward even when certainty isn’t available. You’ll leave with some new clarity about where you actually do know what you’re doing, and perhaps one small step you could take based on that knowing.