Confidence is the key to increasing one’s leadership presence and professional success. As I often tell my female clients, friends and family members, we cannot allow social standards or gender bias to influence our decisions. As a coach and a leader, I often see women playing it safe far too often. Let’s think about how this impacts you professionally.
Maybe you’re considering making that jump from mid-level status to a more senior-level position. It is critical for women at this stage to begin to consider some factors, as leadership development is crucial to success in senior-level positions. Female leaders face an entire host of issues daily, such as unconscious bias, sexism, sexual harassment and even not being taken seriously by their male counterparts.
How can enhancing your confidence impact your leadership capacities and development as you progress through your career? Let’s take a look.
• Be ambitious. It is very easy to get trapped due to a lack of drive, motivation or a fear of failure. While this doesn't apply to everyone, the voices in our minds that tell us to play it safe and to not take risk in our careers are the enemy. This is when it’s time to challenge your mindset. What we think is what we put forward in our actions, whether it is realized or not.
• Steer clear of imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome makes us feel as though our accomplishments are fake. In turn, it makes us feel like we're frauds, that we're undeserving of advancement in our careers. Nine times out of ten, this isn’t even true! You are deserving of your accomplishments, including the next steps in your career. Don’t ever tell yourself otherwise.
• Ditch your fears. It is important to contemplate this one. If you are overly fearful, then what will leadership look like for you? Leaders are often called on to do things that they will not like or necessarily be comfortable with, such as firing an employee. But I fully believe that true leadership is not about ourselves, it is about serving others. If we allow our fears to dictate our actions, then it is going to be easy to allow them to take over. That is when we will stop serving those who need us.
• Take a risk. It is not uncommon or abnormal for someone to be more of a risk-taker than another. However, if you refuse to take any risks at all, then this also goes back to fear. Risks do not have to be scary. In fact, risk-taking can be done in a smart manner and pay off in dividends. Risks are actually opportunities and should be perceived as such.
• Take a stand. If you’re not comfortable taking a stand, then leadership will be an uphill battle for you. As a leader, you become a target for criticism and unnecessary judgment. If you are uncomfortable standing up for yourself, then it calls into question how you might be capable to stand up for others, including your employees. Taking a stand is also critical when a national issue strikes that can affect your business. If you hesitate, this will not only negatively impact your business but your employees and their morale as well. Part of leadership is getting comfortable with the uncomfortable.
• Check your standards. Individuals who are confident like to maintain high standards, have high goals and expect great results. Those with weak confidence tend to set the bar low, have weaker goals and end up with mediocre results. Having high standards will allow you to be a better leader because you will consistently pursue beneficial outcomes and maintain a high-level of goals.
• Test your limits. At this stage, it is critical to test your limits. Do you ask for stretch assignments? Feedback? In this way, you will learn where, how and why to increase them. Succeeding in doing so will also provide you the confidence in continuing this process.
• Be aware of unconscious bias. Don’t let bias be your guide as to who or what your capabilities are. After all, it's biased for a reason.
• Ask questions. Leaders need to ask questions when others don’t — or can’t. If you cannot dig down deep to do this, seeking advancement will be taxing. Remember, your followers will be depending on you to challenge the status quo when necessary.
• Believe in yourself. What many may not know or realize is that their thoughts are like a mirror. If you do not believe in yourself, then others will not either. Belief systems hold a lot of power and can guide us towards success.
• Believe in succeeding. The belief in success is derived from self-confidence. By the same token, those with high levels of self-confidence believe in success, their own ability to succeed and others’ abilities to achieve success.
As female leaders, we are often put to the test more than our male counterparts. The #MeToo movement has provided compelling evidence of such. It has also provided solid evidence of how strong women truly are. Enhancing and honing your confidence will take you far in your leadership and professional development journey. Believe in yourself and your ability to lead, and you’re halfway there.
