Advita Patel is a leading communications and confidence strategist, the 2025 CIPR President, and CEO of CommsRebel. Her new book, Decoding Confidence: The 7 Habits of Confident Leaders, arrives at a critical juncture for HR leaders navigating the intersection of human judgment and artificial intelligence.
Hi Advita, thank you for joining us! You’ve noticed a pattern in the workplace regarding AI that has you concerned. What is happening to leader confidence?
Advita Patel:
There is a quiet erosion of confidence happening right now. Leaders who used to trust their instincts are now routinely deferring to AI before they’ve even formed an original thought. We are seeing professionals outsource their communications, arguments, and judgment to machines.
The problem is that confidence isn’t built in moments of ease; it’s built by the small acts of trusting yourself, forming a view, and even getting it wrong sometimes. When we repeatedly skip that process by using AI as a crutch, we lose the habit of independent thinking and start to doubt our own capabilities.
You reference Daniel Kahneman’s “System 1” and “System 2” thinking here. How does that apply to our AI usage?
Advita Patel:
Most of us operate in System 1—fast, automatic, and intuitive—especially when we are overwhelmed. That is exactly when we reach for AI. It feels productive, but it’s a shortcut that bypasses the slower, deliberate System 2 thinking where rational decisions are made. If leaders model this uncritical adoption, their teams will eventually stop bringing their own thinking to the table.
Your book introduces the BELIEVE framework. How can this help HR leaders develop more resilient talent?
Advita Patel:
Confidence is not a personality trait; it is a learnable skill built through repeatable habits. The BELIEVE framework consists of seven habits:
Two of these are vital in the age of AI. First, Learning: Confident leaders ask what an AI tool can teach them and where it falls short, rather than letting it replace their judgment. Second, Integrity: This is about knowing the difference between your own voice and a generated one, and being willing to say “this is what I actually believe”.
Many HR leaders are currently focused on AI competence. Are we missing the bigger picture?
Advita Patel:
Exactly. The question for HR isn’t whether people are using AI—they should be—but whether they are using it in a way that develops them or hinders them.
HR leaders should be asking:
Your research suggests a strong link between management and confidence. What did you find?
Advita Patel:
My research found that 71% of people said genuine feedback from managers made the biggest difference to their confidence. That human element is where confidence actually gets built.
What was the primary motivation behind writing Decoding Confidence?
Advita Patel:
I spent years coaching brilliant people and realized they weren’t struggling with a skills gap, but a confidence gap. This gap costs organizations far more than anyone wants to admit.
The book also addresses the systemic side—McKinsey’s research shows that employees who don’t see leaders who look like themselves are more likely to doubt their own capabilities. Leaders have a responsibility to shape an environment where everyone can be heard. As Juergen Maier CBE (Chair of Great British Energy) notes in the foreword, the book is a powerful tool for reflecting on our own leadership styles.
“The organizations that will navigate the AI era well aren’t the ones with the most sophisticated tech stack. They’re the ones whose people are confident enough to think critically, speak honestly, and lead with judgment that no algorithm can replicate.”
Decoding Confidence: The 7 Habits of Confident Leaders by Advita Patel is now available at Amazon and major booksellers.
