4 Ways Leaders Beat Doubt

Another late night in the office, wondering if you’re really qualified for the task?

You’re not alone.

Virtually all leaders and executives wrestle with this “not knowing”.

Some are just better at covering it up than others.

Unchecked doubt is felt by your team.

It silently erodes your team’s confidence.

It delays critical decisions.

It dampens your strategic impact.

One of our clients shared: “I’ve spent so long building a reputation for confident competence. I find myself worrying that if I get a promotion, I will be found out and my reputation will collapse.”

The whole team halts when the decision-maker is stuck in cycles of self-questioning.

We at Praesta want to let you know that doubt ≠ weakness.

It’s your RELATIONSHIP with doubt that matters.

Here are 4 ways you can change your relationship with doubt:

1. Externalise your “inner critic,” evaluating their claims in the same way you would analyse your business.

2. Maintain a realistic inventory of your strengths with specific examples of impact (without false modesty).

3. Practise self-compassion around imperfections rather than demanding unattainable perfection.

4. Rewrite outdated personal narratives that no longer reflect their evolved capabilities.

The same client again: “It’s time to put self-doubt behind me. I’ve been tormenting myself with nonsense that’s at odds with the evidence.”

When you develop the psychological skill set to work with your doubts, you unlock a new dimension in your leadership ability.

One that brings with it improvements in decision making, team empowerment, and courage.

This article was originally posted here