You're stepping into a new leadership role with self-doubt. How can you overcome it and excel?

Stepping into a new leadership role often brings self-doubt, a natural reaction to change. Embrace this vulnerability as a source of strength and growth, recognising that uncertainty can fuel your motivation. Acknowledging your fear allows you to address it head-on and leverage it as a catalyst for personal and professional development. Remember, everyone feels this way at some point, and it's a sign of your commitment to doing your best.

First things first, if you are stepping into a new role and are NOT experiencing fear and self-doubt, then maybe you should question if the new role is even right for you. If there is no fear & doubt it usually means there is low stretch and opportunity to grow - and in that case the new role isn't new in much ways.

Stepping into a New Leadership Role with Self-Doubt. How to Overcome and Excel 1. Recognize your feelings without letting them control you. 2. Set Clear Goals, clear goals provide direction and help build confidence. 3. Focus on your strengths and past successes. 4. Surround yourself with people who can help you navigate challenges. 5. Invest in personal and professional development. 6. Maintain a healthy work-life balance. 7. View mistakes as learning opportunities. 8. Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. 9. Be true to your values and leadership style. 10. Regularly visualize yourself succeeding in your role.

TIP: Recognize that FEAR stands for Fantasized Experience Appearing Real, which often highlights anxieties about stepping into the unknown of a new leadership role. Celebrate this fear as a clear indicator that you're pushing beyond your comfort zones, which is essential for personal and professional growth. Reflect on the nature of your fears—distinguish between what's a perceived risk and what's genuinely threatening. For aspects of fear that hold a basis in reality, collaborate with your executive coach to develop strategies to address these effectively. This proactive approach not only mitigates real risks but also empowers you to navigate your new role with confidence and clarity.

Overcoming self-doubt in a new leadership role involves recognizing and accepting your feelings, reflecting on past successes, and embracing a growth mindset. Continuous learning, seeking feedback, and developing key skills are essential. Building strong relationships and support networks, being authentic, and setting clear goals can provide direction and confidence. Prioritizing well-being, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and celebrating small achievements help sustain morale and motivation. By integrating these strategies, you can gradually build confidence and excel in your new leadership position.

TIP: In your initial months as a leader, prioritize understanding over goal setting. Before jumping into establishing SMART goals, spend time actively listening and immersing yourself in the new environment. Learn about the context, key stakeholders, existing challenges, and the dynamics at play. This foundational knowledge will inform more relevant and achievable goals as you progress. Starting with a listening approach demonstrates patience and respect for the established culture and practices, allowing you to tailor your objectives more effectively to the real needs of the organization.

It would be strange not to feel nervous in a new role, no matter how senior or experienced you are. So, acknowledge this and refocus on 2 things: learning & action. LEARN each day. Listen more than you talk and build deep relationships in the first 100 days. People want to know they can trust you. You’ll never get this “I’m new here” time back so capitalize on it. TAKE ACTION: The best way to overcome nerves is to take action. Reflect on what you’ve discovered and see where you can add true value and strategic change. Solve problems and be proactive with quick win-wins. Being new gives you a new and valuable perspective. It’s an advantage that can work FOR you. Work with your team and your coach to make the most of it.

Cut the proverbial 'dragon' in small manageable pieces and bring the challenge to a size you can confront without being paralysed by fear: set realistic goals that can challenge you optimally. A matched balance of challenges and skills slightly tilted towards the challenges is the way to go. Schedule meetings, begin developing a routine, gather useful information and start working on those people management muscles gradually and steadily.

La inteligencia artificial puede ayudarte a establecer y seguir estos objetivos SMART de manera eficiente. Imagina tener un asistente virtual que te ayuda a planificar, te recuerda tus progresos y ajusta las tareas según las prioridades cambiantes. La IA también puede proporcionar análisis predictivos, ayudándote a anticipar desafíos y a celebrar tus logros con un toque de humor: “?Felicidades, has alcanzado el objetivo del mes! ?Ahora, a por el siguiente, campeón(a)!”.

Das wichtigste Ziel in einer neuen Führungrolle: Diese Rolle in der Tiefe zu verstehen und eine eigene Perspektive darauf zu entwickeln. Von Führungskr?ften wird erwartet, dass sie ihren Bereich gestalten und nicht einfach nur etablierte Strukturen übernehmen. Das verlangt aber, dass du erst mal ein eigenes Zielbild entwickelst. Nimm dir Zeit, dieses Zielbild gut abzustimmen: Mit dem Team, mit deinem Chef (als CEO: Mit dem Beirat). Hole alle ab, die dich unterstützen sollen. Und übersetze diese Ziele dann in einen klaren Plan. Stell dabei sicher, dass alle Schritte machbar sind. Nichts ist schlimmer, als eine neue Führungskraft, die vollmundige Versprechen macht und sie bei der ersten Gelegenheit bricht.

Keep going. The self-doubt is normal. It’s part of the process. Without it you’d be cocky and dangerous. Lay out your goals, whether 30-60-90 and things will fall into place. A coach is helpful too.

In a VUCA world, no leader knows everything, can be everywhere, and deals with everything. Embracing the learning mindset is a good first step. With AI and online 7/24, leaders always need to catch up on what they know and how they can decide, but a progressive learning mindset can help overcome that challenge. Learning is not just about going to courses, reading, or joining a group; it is also about how your thinking evolves and grows and how you relate, engage, or nurture with others. Your presence is more than your decision-making or authority; it is your vision, leadership, communication, and strategic thinking. Seek guidance from a coach, form an advisory council and strategise a learning journey plan to grow your leadership.

Eine gute Führungskraft sieht sich immer als Lernender. Ja, du bist in diese Rolle gekommen, weil du etwas gut gemacht hast. Aber es ist auch eine neue Rolle. Bisher warst du Fachkraft - jetzt führst du Menschen. Bisher hast du ein Team in einem Konzern geleitet - jetzt gehst du in ein gründergeführtes Unternehmen. Sei dir klar: Mit hoher Wahrscheinlichkeit ist deine neue Rolle ganz anders als deine alte Rolle - Selbst wenn sie den gleich Titel hat. Die Umst?nde sind die dieselben. Der Schlüssel zu deinem Erfolg: Nimm dir am Anfang einer neuen Führungsrolle viel Zeit zum Lernen und Reflektieren. Lerne von deinen Peers und deinen Mitarbeitern. Deine Offenheit zeigt: Ich nehme euch ernst und stülpe euch keine unpassenden Ideen über.

The very venturing into unchartered territory is the first step towards new learning. With diligence, good faith and an exploratory intention, no unchartered territory will remain unmapped. Continuous learning and growth is and will be prove to be inevitable.

Like you're leading with your eyes closed? Train yourself to be a traveler instead of someone who always thinks they know everything. Great leaders go where no one has gone before! Enjoy learning! Find guides and training to become a mapmaker! Imagine that you are in charge of a choir! The best keep learning new skills (instruments) to make a beauty (achieve strategy goals)! Learning will lead you home! You feel more sure that you can lead your team to success as you learn more.

Leadership isn’t a solo journey; it’s a team effort. Build a support network of people who believe in you and your vision. Seek mentors, allies, and friends who will stand by you, offering guidance and encouragement. Just as a lighthouse guides ships through stormy seas, your support system will help you navigate the challenges and celebrate your victories.

Gerade in den ersten Wochen einer neuen Führungsrolle ist es hilfreich, einen Coach an der Seite zu haben, der deine Schritte hinterfragt und dir hilft, deine Rolle und deinen Weg in die Organisation aktiv zu gestalten. Und der dich bremst, wenn du zu schnell etwas erreichen willst, ohne die notwendige Grundlagenarbeit gemacht zu haben.

Executive coaching is the best tool to help a new leader carve a steady pathway ahead; in a new role, it is easy to get carried away by a thousand shiny objects and possible directions leading to what is commonly known as analysis paralysis or frazzle; for this reason, coaching can serve as a useful platform or framework to place first things first and to avoid unnecessary panic and stress.

To effectively build a support network that enhances your leadership, actively cultivate relationships that offer diverse perspectives and skills. Create a leadership circle composed of individuals at various stages of their careers, from seasoned executives who can provide wisdom based on experience to peers facing similar challenges who can offer empathy and mutual support. Additionally, consider joining or forming mastermind groups where you can discuss leadership challenges and strategies in a confidential, supportive setting. This network will not only provide emotional and professional support but also expose you to new ideas and approaches, strengthening your ability to lead confidently and effectively.

Embracing flexibility is key. As Daniel Goleman said “Being a great leader means recognizing that different circumstances may call for different approaches.”

Daily reflection can help navigate effectively as to where things go well and where there is a risk of things going sideways. Keeping a journal, talking to a coach or trusted colleagues can help one remain properly oriented without being disheartened about errors and inaccurate or bad decisions.

Reflection is vital to progress. We tend to reflect on the negatives rather than what went well. However, we must remember every mistake is a treasure which helps us to grow.

Reflection goes beyond assessing our actions. It is an opportunity to connect with our “Inner Selves”. In doing so, we invite Spiritual Intelligence into our leadership. I find that acknowledging both my fears and victories creates a Holistic "view" of my journey. This recognition fosters confidence, allowing me to lead with “Authenticity”. By embracing this practice, I transform self-doubt into a deeper understanding of my purpose and values, empowering me to guide others with clarity and compassion.

To optimize your leadership reflection, introduce a "reflection ritual" where you set aside time after key events or decisions to write down three key lessons learned and three areas for improvement. This practice should focus on critical incidents—moments where the outcome was pivotal to your team’s or your progress. By isolating these moments and analyzing them in-depth, you can gain nuanced insights into your leadership dynamics and decision-making processes. Over time, this ritual will build a personal database of experiences from which you can draw lessons and continually evolve your leadership approach

While entering new leadership role it is natural that doubts may arise about self competence. There is plethora of literature on leadership , reading helps gain insight. Step out to get acquainted with the work assignment of all the team members. Develop understanding about the administrative policy & practices . Remain humble and grounded. Listen attentively.Seek feedback. Learn from all the stakeholders . Do not hesitate to learn from the subordinates/ team members about the organisational matters. Gather yourself, have courage and determination, be optimistic, be empathetic, have self awareness about strength and limitations, work upon limitations to mitigate. Be open minded, be courteous, strengthen communication, seek guidance.

Get your eyes off of yourself! Think back, about the work you’ve done, about the people you’ve helped. Make a list if you need to. Everyone you’ve coached. The amazing stories they have of what they are doing now. Go through your phone. Text people. See how they light up and text you back. Get your eyes off of yourself - and get them on others. You’ll snap out of it quick.

Positivity is your secret weapon in overcoming self-doubt. When faced with obstacles, focus on the potential for growth rather than the fear of failure. Keep a positive mindset and surround yourself with positivity. This isn’t about ignoring difficulties but about approaching them with optimism and resilience. Your attitude will shape your path and inspire those around you to do the same.