Experience matters. There’s no getting around that fact. Leaders who have seen a situation before feel more confident and better able to focus on the people and issues that count. Strategies and tactics employed in a previous episode give leaders a good idea of what will work in the current situation and what won’t.
I see a lot of younger and early career people post about suffering from Imposter Syndrome. I hope they find this post and read it. It is the antidote to Imposter Syndrome and once you learn and accept it, you're kind of unstoppable (if you want to be).
This is a great reminder - thank you for writing. Having just stepped into the CEO role less than a year ago, I've faced several situations I had yet to navigate. So trust in oneself, especially at inflection points relative to the business, is critically important. Likewise, knowing that challenges produce learnings one way or another is also a source of confidence. The only note I'd add is that, as a new senior leader, I've found value in my support system to lean on when I need advice or counsel. They are often a source of courage to keep leaning in.
Great question! Primarily external - board members, business advisors, mentors, etc. Typically if I'm facing a challenging situation or hard decision I haven't come up against before, I'll spot-check with 3-5 folks to check my intuition and look for any obvious detours from the average of the feedback if that makes sense.
I needed this post and the comments that followed right at this exact time. Thank you to everyone!
I see a lot of younger and early career people post about suffering from Imposter Syndrome. I hope they find this post and read it. It is the antidote to Imposter Syndrome and once you learn and accept it, you're kind of unstoppable (if you want to be).
This is a great reminder - thank you for writing. Having just stepped into the CEO role less than a year ago, I've faced several situations I had yet to navigate. So trust in oneself, especially at inflection points relative to the business, is critically important. Likewise, knowing that challenges produce learnings one way or another is also a source of confidence. The only note I'd add is that, as a new senior leader, I've found value in my support system to lean on when I need advice or counsel. They are often a source of courage to keep leaning in.
Great question! Primarily external - board members, business advisors, mentors, etc. Typically if I'm facing a challenging situation or hard decision I haven't come up against before, I'll spot-check with 3-5 folks to check my intuition and look for any obvious detours from the average of the feedback if that makes sense.