“What is holding you back from being the leader that you want to be?”

This is the question I asked my followers at the beginning of the month – such a simple but powerful question.

The responses were honest, vulnerable…and so telling.

Here’s what you told me:

This poll confirmed something I see time and time again in my coaching sessions: self-doubt is one of the biggest barriers to career confidence.

And you know what? It’s so much more common than you might think.

Self-doubt isn’t a sign you’re not good enough. It’s a sign you care. It tends to creep in when:

● You’re stepping up to something new
● You’re comparing yourself to others
● You don’t see people like you in leadership roles
● Or you’ve been told (directly or indirectly) to play small

If this sounds familiar, you’re far from alone. But here’s the good news: career confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build.

If I could give my younger self (and anyone reading this) one piece of advice, it would be: “You don’t need to feel 100% confident to lead; you just need to start.”

When I got my first leadership role, a stand alone role reporting to the Chief Exec and setting up the HR function it felt like a huge leap. I’d never done anything like that before and I could easily have let self doubt derail me.

But I believe that confidence comes through action, which can look like saying yes to the opportunity before you feel ready, speaking up when your inner voice says “stay quiet”, asking for feedback, not validation, or surrounding yourself (online and in-person) with people who lift you up.

It’s a practice and one you don’t have to figure out alone.

If you resonated with that poll, or if self-doubt has been showing up in your career lately, I’d love for you to be part of the conversation.

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I go live every other week sharing practical advice, mindset tools, and personal stories about career growth and leadership - and I’d love to have you there!