There are many reasons why people feel insecure and doubtful.
Here are 3 situations I often observe among my clients that can fuel self-doubt:
➡️ High levels of responsibility:
Managers know that they’re also responsible for the well-being of their team. They must make decisions that impact the company and that won’t please every employee. This responsibility, combined with empathy for their team members, can lead to emotional stress and personal uncertainty—uncertainty and doubt about whether the decision is truly in everyone’s best interest.
➡️ Complex tasks:
Managers often have to handle numerous and complex tasks that they find difficult to solve. When, as is so often the case, time pressure is added to the mix along with the feeling of being “under scrutiny” by their own superiors, this creates a perceived challenge that doesn’t allow for focused reflection yet still demands quick decisions. Here, too, managers feel doubt about whether they are acting correctly.
➡️ Negative experiences:
If managers have made a bad decision or a mistake in the past, and negative consequences followed, there is a high risk that their self-perception will be disrupted. They strongly question themselves and their competencies and are afraid of making another mistake.
➡️ Personality:
Of course, sometimes a person’s own personality can also contribute to their self-doubt. Highly introverted leaders describe how they feel insecure when leading teams or in meetings, as they may generally feel uncomfortable in social situations.
What can leaders do to overcome their self-doubt?
There are many ways to build self-confidence, such as through coaching, mentoring with other leaders, or regularly reminding yourself of your own abilities. Focusing on your strengths, acknowledging your successes, and reminding yourself of them time and again can help reduce self-doubt. Even openly addressing the challenge—including within the team—leads to overcoming it and, at the same time, to more authentic and self-assured leadership.
What experiences have you had?
Bianca-Maria