Being smart is not enough

"I just don't know how to get the job I really want... what am I doing wrong?"

"I'm not sure I have what it takes to land a better position."

"They are so senior and experienced; I don't think I'll measure up."

"If I try to go after a more fulfilling role, I'll let my family down."

"I'm not ready for this kind of challenges."

"My lack of confidence always betrays me."

"Is this the right time? What if I screw it up?"

If you’ve asked yourself either of these questions at any point on your executive career, this article is for you.

Finding executive success isn’t guess work.

Whether your aim is to reach a higher role, succeed in your existing role or get hired in a high-level executive position, you can find the success you’re looking for when you strengthen your career strategy and perspective to unleash and capitalize on all your experience and preparation.

Harnessing all your career potential means for you to discover what distinguishes you as an executive -your unique talents- and master all career blocks your facing, including those inside you.

To do this successfully you need to pay attention to what I call "The 5-Pillars of Career Success" – your Personal Branding, Networking, Positioning System, Mindset and Stakeholders Engagement. You can see more on this in my upcoming Great Career & Salary Negotiations Program, which also comes in Spanish.

Only with an integral perspective that includes not only having the most powerful strategies, but also working with this inner voice, your 'inner saboteur' (that is like a neurotic roomie inside your head), you will be able to transform your career once and for all. I'll talk in another article about how having a strategy that will set you apart from the "known path" is crucial nowadays.

3 facts to mute your 'inner saboteur'

According to scientific studies, we talk to ourselves 14 hours a day, which translates in 50 to 60 thousand times, and the worst part is that 80% is negative feedback about ourselves: fears, doubts, insecurities, criticism, etc.

All of it comes from the way your brain works, how it's wired. Rick Hanson, PhD explains the latest neuroscientific research in a very simple and comprehensive way in his book Buddha's Brain.

So, if sometimes you feel lost and lonely with this (as I call him) neurotic roomie, you're not alone. Here you will discover there is a proven and effective system that will help you master this powerful voice and avoid him to block you career ahead.

A few days ago, I was working with one of my Coachees in Brazil (he is the Country President at a Big Pharma), and he was amazed of how dealing effectively with his saboteur has taking him to compete successfully in three different hunting process for higher-level positions (one in his company for a global role and two with other 100 Fortune companies).

It would be very convenient to apply a formula to tame this annoying neurotic roomie, but the truth is that it requires expert help to unmask his repertoire, due to the breadth and depth of his toolkit.

Once you've dismantled him, you'll find your way is free of most of the blockers you ever experienced.

What most people don't know, is that their inner saboteur has an amazing power. That is why you can't fight it back... it's here to stay and to fight the battle until the end, even though it will come with high costs for you, your career, and your life.

It's not always easy to measure all the costs and the opportunities you've missed because your grouchy inner roomie is sabotaging you and reminding you every time about all your shortfalls and lacks.

A good exercise is to make a list of everything you've lost because of him. It will also help you understand how he works. At first, it may appear like a voice that is trying to protect you from losing something important for you, or from danger. But his true nature is to hold you back, to keep you where you are. Especially when you take risks to reach a better life and career.

Now that you're aware, the real question is...

What can I do about him?

When we have the same thoughts repeatedly, something happens inside our brain: neurons create a long-time relationship. "Neurons that fire together, wire together" (as neuroscientist say after Donald Hebb), and this long-time memory is what makes changing so challenging and difficult. Any experience, emotion, or situation like the one that 'triggers' your thought will activate this synapsis.

To deal with your inner saboteur effectively and permanently implies to change your thoughts and beliefs in such a deep way that will re-wire your brain, that will create new synapsis that will help you grow instead of blocking your career.

Let's unleash all your potential!

Yardena Krongold is an executive career coach helping mid to senior-level corporate executives accelerate their career growth into higher roles, greater financial abundance, and a more fulfilling lifestyle.?

Contact: [email protected]

Service in Spanish: [email protected]