As a leader, have you ever had a great opportunity look you in the face and you questioned whether you were enough to take it on?
I have the great fortune to be an aunt to five amazing women, each doing really great things in their own way. Recently I was able to catch up with one of my nieces who has so many great things going on professionally and personally. She is super smart, talented, highly educated (this girl has two Masters degrees-yeah, I’m a bit proud!) and kind.
When brainstorming about work opportunities we discussed strategies she could put into action to help her get to the next level in her career, all within her reach and all strategies that she could knock out of the park.
When we talked a little about what might hold her back, she shared the notion of feeling like she wasn’t ready – perhaps she needed more credentials, experience or education to make these bold moves.
With all of that talent all she needed was a plan and a reminder of just how brilliant she is.
The next day I joined a panel of corporate leaders held at a large health insurance company. It was a great discussion on leadership in the workplace. One of the last questions posed by one woman in the audience was,“When do you know when it is the right time to take on a new role?”
My fellow panelists gave really sound advice (talk the opportunity over with a mentor, pay attention to your intuition, pray, meditate) but after having that conversation with my niece I felt compelled to jump in.
I asked the men in the audience to indulge me while I addressed the women in the room. I shared that as women we want to be over-prepared, over-educated, over-experienced before we feel we are ready for that promotion.
The truth is – you are already enough.
In the Harvard Business Review article, “Why Women Don’t Apply for Jobs Unless They Are 100% Qualified”, by Tara Sophia, the author quotes findings from an internal report from Hewlett Packard which states, ‘Men apply for a job when they meet only 60% of the qualifications, but women only apply if they meet 100% of them”.
Why do women leaders do this?
Fear of failure
Fear of getting outside of their comfort zone
Fear of rejection
The things that always hold you back from living the life that you were meant to live.
The next day as I thought about the event, I realized that I should have addressed the men and implored them to hold themselves accountable to push the women in their lives past their point of fear. And to remind these women just how capable they are.
To be clear, there will be times when you won’t have the experience needed for the role. You can build a plan to gain those skills, just be sure you aren’t the one holding yourself back.
When you take that step and realize that the earth didn’t swallow you whole by taking a risk you’ll notice a few benefits of doing so:
- A boost to your confidence by pushing through your comfort zone
- Experience and practice gained by going through the process
- Getting on the radar of leaders to let them know you are ready for the next step
- Feedback to help you grow
Call to action
Today, I ask you to reflect on areas in your life where you may be holding yourself back by thinking you are “not enough”.
Quiet the voice in your head by making a list of experiences, characteristics and attributes that make you enough and take the leap!