It can be a Game Changer

Every leader who becomes a great leader gets to the edge of their greatness before they can leap ahead. Before we take the next steps we are often faced with inner voices that tell us we are ready or steal our joy and make us hesitate. Taking those steps in a new direction can often create doubt, bring up the “fraud gremlin” or “imposter” and paralyze your forward momentum.

“You gain srength, courage and confidence by every experience which you must stop and look fear in the face…You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“for just a moment our doubter shows its face…”

What stops us in our tracks is often the fear of the unknown or what I call comparison syndrome.  For just a moment our doubter shows its face and the unconscious belief rears its head and we cave.  We end up going back to what we were doing before, to the place of our comfort.  The experience seems safe.  We rationalize and watch as someone else gets the promotion. We hear from friends, peers, or colleagues sharing news of a goal met.  You might even cringe inside even though you are happy for them because you know you could have had it if you had only stood in your own magnificence. Has this ever happened to you?

Confidence helps you move to the edge and beyond.  It frees you up to focus on what you want to have happen while totally letting go.  I’m talking about unwavering self-confidence.  This means belief in you, your passion, and your next steps.  If you firmly believe in yourself, your strengths, and your capabilities then it makes it so much easier to get to the edge and leap.  Confidence means leaving behind your doubts, your fears, and insecurities and lets you face the unknown. 

Courageous actions require a confident approach.  This means you don’t have to think about the outcomes.  You know no matter the outcome you will have arrived at a new inner dimension of your greatness.  This action gives you fuel to “risk” again and again. You must take it though – continuously, confidently over and over again. This builds the confidence muscle that is required to lead greatly and demonstrate your capabilities.

What if you find yourself at one of these threshold places where you know if you crossed over it would make all the difference in your career, and your life?  How do you tap into your inner confidence to boldly take this step? 

CONFIDENCE BUILDERS:

What are some of the confidence builders? Below is a small list to get you started:

• Read everything everyone ever wrote about you, your performance, and your strengths.
• Write out all your life long accomplishments including personal and outside of your career.
• Call a trusted advisor and ask them to mirror your strengths.
• Ask yourself what this experience can bring you.
• Think about your life at age 100 and ask yourself if taking this action made a difference.
• Write out why you want to do this and then write out the why to the why five levels deep.
• Write out a vision of what your life will look like by having taken this action and then stand in that end place, feel what it is like, and take action.

I guarantee by the time you do one or two of the things listed above you will discover more confidence than you knew you possessed.  Get off the edge, out of the bleachers and into the game of your life. Everyone benefits when you stand for your own greatness with confidence and in your power.

One more thing –

I remember when I first took over my team wondering if I was up to leading them well after being one of their peers and I recall the inner turmoil mixed with the knowing that I was ready for this and would do a great job. It was the middle of an acquisition and I knew now was the time for me to step up and ask for what I wanted – I did so with fear and trembling and it was one of the best decisions I ever made in my career.

I know if I had not been willing in the face of my fear to take that leap that nothing would change and that drove me harder than the fear! So, find what is strong enough within you to not give up! And by the way, my team won awards every year and we held the number one position more frequently than most other teams in the country. So go for it!

And if you need help – please contact me at kathy@mindoftheheartcoaching.com! I seek to help you thrive and succeed!

Have an awesome day!

Kathy