Here's how you can conquer self-doubt and cultivate self-assurance in your career.

Using the verb "conquering" for doubt sets up a problematic relationship that often exacerbates the problem. Conquest frames it as an enemy. Really self-doubt is trying to protect you. Its an overzealous security guard, a pre-conscious function to manage fear. We can first help ourselves feel safe enough (in body as well as mind, maybe with another person) to actually actually acknowledge that there is fear, then discern what the fear is of. Like a horror movie, fear is most powerful when we can't see the monster. Knowing its identity & function empowers us to choose how to engage it. We can accept that it is there, welcome its advice, & start planning out how to get what we really desire. It's just an advisor to the board, not the CEO.

I used to suffer with imposter syndrome massively as the founder of a tech company, without a technical background. I knew my weak points, I learnt as much as I could, and I hired experts in those areas we needed additional skills.

You can't be great at everything. But you can aim to grow expertise and build on your strengths. It's a much quicker and more satisfying win than trying to plug all of your weaknesses.

You can't run a business without learning constantly. You learn about yourself, about others, and about the industry. Create cultures where learning is the norm and set a precedent by prioritising your own growth.

We need feedback for good reason. If we're learning, growing, or challenging ourselves, we're always changing. We need reflection from others (people especially but also tools & metrics) to not just know how we are doing, but who we are. We operate out a constructed view of ourselves & reality, skewed & limited by our awareness. By proactively inviting feedback (& creating spaces safe enough for honesty), we build better models of ourselves, our performance, & the world we engage. When we have more MEANINGFUL data, we can feel more secure & make more calculated decisions. Our actions then have a better chance of success, reinforcing the feedback loop & building self-assurance. Negative self-talk does the exact opposite, so be kind & open.

Get a wide variety of feedback. Not just from people you work with, but from a variety of people in your life. Some of the truths may be harsh, but that's the point - it's all a development opportunity.

Networking and building a group of people around you with similar goals and challenges can really help in times you feel like your struggles are yours alone.

One of our most dangerous American myths is the lone hero. The reality is that however confident or competent, we can all do more in relationships with other people. Through relationships, we face our fears & misconceptions while resourcing ourselves to learn & grow both personally & professionally. Show me someone who spurns relationships & I'll show you burnout & pain that can only be repaired in relationships. Self-assurance & self-confidence are not self-created. We are social creatures who need input & support to actually thrive. This also doesn't mean all relationships are healthy. We need other relationships to see that disfunction. Boundaries & intentionality help cultivate resilient support networks that can withstand difficulty.