How to Believe You’ve Got What It Takes

Many talented, capable, senior people I work with quietly think:

“I’m not sure I’ve really got what it takes.”

Not because they don’t have the skills.
Not because they’re underperforming. But because they can’t clearly articulate what’s good about them…
or the impact they actually have. So they hesitate.  And the self-doubt creeps in.
They play smaller than they need to.
They wait to be “found out” as good enough.

Self-belief isn’t something you either have or don’t.
It’s something you build.

And it takes a bit more than positive thinking and a pep talk in the mirror.

In my experience, it comes down to three things:

1. Borrow the mirror (you’re too close to see it clearly)

Most people are trying to work themselves out from the inside out.

Instead, look from the outside in:

* What problems do people come to you to solve?

* What are you like to work with?

* Where do you add value without even thinking about it?

In other words:


How are you known, liked and trusted?

Clue: it’s already happening. You just haven’t joined the dots yet.

2. Turn it into something you can actually say out loud

This is where it often falls apart. People sort of know they’re good… but can’t explain how. If you can’t articulate it:

* others can’t see it

* you can’t believe it

Get specific:

* What do you do?

* What changes because of you?

* What’s different after you’ve been involved?

If it sounds vague, it won’t land.


Clarity builds confidence.

3. Bring it to life (don’t make people do the work)

This is the bit people resist… and the bit that makes all the difference.

You cannot send a CV into the void and hope someone pieces it together. People are busy.
They are not sitting there thinking, “Let me do some detective work on this person’s potential.” You have to do the heavy lifting:

* tell the story

* join the dots

* make it easy to see your value

Yes, it’s“salesy”.  But you do have something to sell so in the nicest possible way, let’s get over ourselves.

No, you don’t have to become someone you’re not. But you do have to show up and make it obvious.

If you’re struggling with self-belief, it’s often not a confidence problem. It’s a clarity problem. And clarity is fixable.

If you want to believe you’ve got it, then first work out: What is it that I have, and how do I articulate it?

And if you need help, I’m here for 1-2-1 work, group work or workshops!  Check it all out at www.fasttracktofearless.com

Tracy