How Self-Doubt Impacts Career Advancement

Throughout my flying career, I was surrounded by the greatest fighter pilots in the world. I felt privileged to learn and fly with them, but I often felt out of my element. As I joined these high performing teams, my inner critic regularly told me I wasn't good enough, which made me hesitate and second-guess how I showed up. Luckily, I learned that self-doubt wasn't a reflection of my potential, but an emotion to acknowledge. Here's what I discovered along the way: 💡 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 - an internal narrative. Once you learn to recognize and challenge these thoughts, you open doors to new possibilities. You'll find yourself taking on challenges you previously thought impossible, leading to: • Increased confidence • Career advancement • A sense of fulfillment 💡 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝘀𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹. Start by keeping a thought journal for a week: • Write down any negative self-talk you notice. • Look for patterns like "I'm not good enough" or "I'll probably fail." • Challenge these thoughts by looking at the evidence. Often, you'll find these beliefs aren't based on facts. 💡 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵. When faced with a challenging task, instead of thinking, "I can't do this," try, "This is a chance to learn something new." • Set small, achievable goals related to the challenge. • Acknowledge small victories. • Seek feedback from trusted colleagues and mentors to gain new perspectives. Remember, just like I learned to trust my abilities in the cockpit, you too can overcome self-doubt. It's a journey, but with each step, you're building the confidence. << What advice would you give for someone dealing with crippling self-doubt? >> ------------------------ Hi, I'm Michelle. I'm a former fighter pilot turned speaker, author, and coach. If you found this helpful, consider reposting ♻️ and follow me for more content like this.

My client almost took a role two levels below what she was ready for. She'd been told: "Play it safe." "Take a step back to get back in." "Lateral moves are smarter during transitions." And she believed it. So she started applying for sr. manager roles Even though she'd been leading at a Director level for years. When the rejections rolled in, it hit hard. She started thinking: "Maybe I need to prove myself all over again." "Maybe I'm not as strong as I thought." "Maybe VP just isn't realistic." She wasn't lacking skill. She was stuck in a mindset trap. Because when high-performers start doubting themselves, They stop aiming high. They shrink their ambition to avoid rejection. But that "safety"? It's just another version of playing small. Here's what changed: We didn't rewrite her resume. We rewrote the story in her head. → From "starting over" to "already VP material" → From applying down to showing up at her level → From self-doubt to strategic clarity 90 days later? She landed the VP title she thought was out of reach. Because promotions don't just come from doing more. They come from seeing yourself at the level *before* others do. 3 mindset shifts if you're stuck playing it safe: 1. Stop asking if you're "ready." Start asking if you're already doing the work at the next level. 2. Don't apply down. Interview like a peer, not a subordinate. 3. Lead with impact, not history. What matters is what you can drive next. If you're underestimating yourself right now... It's time to raise the bar. Because the only thing standing between you and your next role Might be the story you've been telling yourself. Share ♻️ for someone who needs to hear this

Most job seekers let their imposter syndrome drive their job searches. You think it's the market... (and don't get me wrong, it definitely *isn't easy* out there.) But y'all are ALSO shooting yourselves in the foot because you're too afraid to own all the work you've done and the impact you've had. It shows on your resume, in your networking, in your interviews, everywhere. Here's how to know if this is you: → You're letting the rejection from that one company mean you're not qualified for any roles that ask for "xyz" experience. → You're hearing your old boss's voice in your head telling you you're not quite ready for that next step up every time you see an "exact fit" job description but a higher title. → You're not owning that seriously impressive accomplishment because you were too busy and on to the next thing in 10 minutes and you never really stopped to think about it. You can't let your imposter syndrome be in charge. It'll hold you back every time. So what can you do to keep the imposter from squashing your career ambitions and sabotaging your job search? Step ❶ Catch it in the act. You've got to start listening to your own self-talk. Step ❷ Ask yourself: "Is that a fact or a thought?" The more negative your self-talk is, the more likely it's actually a thought and NOT a fact. Then take a step back and find the FACT of the circumstance. (I'll drop an example in the comments.) Step ❸ Kick that imposter out of your head. Some great questions we ask clients that will help you find your confidence: → When applying: Why am I the absolute best person for this role? → When prepping for interviews: If I didn't do this, who would? → When writing your resume: Why was this actually super important to the company? In most cases—if you've done the job before, if you have more than a few years of experience (and ESPECIALLY at the leadership level!)—you don't have to change your experience/go get another certification/hope and pray someone sees your value and offers you a job. You just have to uplevel how you think about yourself and how you articulate your experience. The people who are getting the offers in this market still have the imposter syndrome...it's just not in charge. _____________________ _____________________ This is why most clients we work with tell us that of all the work we do together, our live calls are the most impactful as Private Clients. My team and I don't hear the little voices in your head. We're a neutral 3rd party. We get to stay focused on the facts of your accomplishments and how they qualify you for the role you want. And we'll call you out if we see that imposter syndrome popping up and getting in your way.