Glossary

Confidence, explained.

Clear, honest definitions of the ideas SURGO is built on — so the words mean the same thing to you as they do to us.

Confidence Index: The Confidence Index is a 0–100 score SURGO computes from your real activity — daily focuses, real-world challenges, and voice sessions — starting from a baseline set by your assessment. It rises as you do the work and is designed to reflect earned progress, not a counter that inflates on its own.
Imposter syndrome: Imposter syndrome is the persistent feeling that you're a fraud who will be 'found out,' despite evidence of your competence. It's common among high achievers and is a pattern of thought, not a measure of your actual ability.
Social anxiety: Social anxiety is an intense fear of being judged, embarrassed, or scrutinized in social situations, often strong enough to lead you to avoid them. Mild social anxiety is very common; when it significantly disrupts daily life it can be a clinical condition worth discussing with a professional.
Self-efficacy: Self-efficacy is your belief in your own ability to succeed at a specific task or situation. Psychologist Albert Bandura identified it as a key driver of whether people attempt challenges and persist through setbacks.
Filler words: Filler words are sounds and phrases like 'um', 'uh', 'like', 'so', and 'you know' that fill pauses while you think. A few are natural and human; frequent fillers can make you sound less certain than you are.
Vocal clarity: Vocal clarity is how clearly and understandably you speak — a blend of articulation, steady pace, and few disfluencies. Clear speech is perceived as more confident and competent, regardless of content.