The method for a lack of ______________ is very similar to the medicine for overconfidence: put the individual in charge.

• A. Confidence
• B. Competence
• C. Courage
• D. Empathy

Answer: (A)

Giving someone ownership over a task and letting them steer decisions is a strong way to build their confidence. When you place an individual in charge, they gain real experience, see the results of their choices, and receive feedback that helps them trust their own judgment. The same idea applies to overconfidence: assigning real responsibility creates accountability and real-world stakes, which tempers overestimation and grounds self-perception in reality. So the missing word is confidence, because lacking confidence is addressed by expanding responsibility to prove and develop their belief in themselves. The other options—competence, courage, and empathy—aren’t addressed in the same way by simply being put in charge; they involve skills, bravery, or relational sensitivity that require different approaches.