I joined a meeting/ dinner on a new project with a few colleagues and team from a partner company. We enjoyed the discussion, food, and each other’s company.
What’s striking is not how ‘smart’ people are or what ‘incredible’ works they’ve done but how ‘down-to-earth’ people are and ‘natural’ the conversation flows. There is no hard-selling, neither boast of credential or success; instead, the CEO asked for a few weeks to think where they can add values and suggested to start small with a proof-of-concept. Later at dinner, the CEO (MIT graduate/ had started a few VC-backed ventures) talked about being a father has made him realize how much he doesn’t know. He also mentioned that he is excited to hear the feedback from his team; he hired a well-respected, ‘tough’ executive to conduct 360 degree interviews with his staffs. At the end of dinner, he offered to take a staff home (who came from another country) and wait together for team return (who went shopping).
When we think of confidence or confident people, wealth, success, dynamic public presence often come to mind. Today, I’ve seen another kind…Confidence of being authentic and vulnerable. Confidence to be curious and care about others…