Conquer Self-Doubt: How Embracing Your Voice Can Transform Your Leadership Journey

The 1 piece of leadership advice Id give my younger self for a more fulfilling and successful career:

“Your voice matters.”

It took me decades to internalize this belief.

And for years Id give deference to others because I doubted myself or didnt feel the support I wanted.

It was hard, but I needed to take ownership of my own beliefs and speak up more.

A big part of that was working through self-doubt.

Here are 2 big doubts I had to overcome along the way.

𝟭/ 𝗜𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺

Id have an idea, but I was afraid to share it. I was afraid it wasnt a good idea and that someone smarter than me would call me out.

After I started sharing more I learned that my ideas were just part of the process. Maybe someone smarter than me would pick up my idea and run with it. Or challenge it. Or spin it into a whole new idea.

I didnt have to be the smartest person to be part of a high-performing, collaborative team.

The truth: The best ideas come from a diversity of thought, not the smartest people.

𝟮/ 𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸

In some places I didn’t feel comfortable speaking up.

I’ve been talked over. Ignored. And had ideas taken from me. I didnt feel heard.

I shut down and people noticed. Did they feel sorry for me? Ha, no. It was more like “Why aren’t you speaking up, Kim?”

This one may be even harder. And the only way out is through. You have to believe in yourself and be your own advocate.

That may mean speaking up when youre afraid.

Or being brave enough to change your environment.

Truth: Some places wont support you the way you want. You have to advocate for yourself.

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It may have taken a long time, but I’ve learned that my voice matters and I hope to teach new leaders to feel empowered to speak up.

If youre suffering from self-doubt right now, please know this:

YOUR VOICE MATTERS

If you dont have the support system you need right now, DM me.

There are people that will support you.

And when you speak up, well all be better for it.