Is your self-doubt killing your career growth?

Have you ever looked at an exciting career opportunity and immediately thought 'I'm not ready for this'? Or maybe you've seen that perfect role, workshop, or speaking engagement, but that familiar voice of self-doubt started whispering 'someone else would do this better'?

I know that feeling. In fact, I felt exactly that when I was approached to deliver workshops for the women's network at the UN. That mix of excitement and terror, wondering if I was truly qualified enough, experienced enough, or simply 'enough.'

But here's what I've learned: those self-doubts don't have to be stop signs. They can be signposts pointing toward growth. I'm living proof – I not only delivered that UN workshop on assertiveness and confidence, but the women who attended found it truly transformative.

Today, I'll share three strategies that helped me move from self-doubt to success, and how you can use them to take your next bold career step.

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Strategy #1: Why "Not Knowing Everything" Is Actually Your Secret Weapon

The first step to building real confidence isn't about being perfect – it's about embracing what you don't know. I call this "stress testing" your expertise.

You see an amazing opportunity on LinkedIn and thought "I should wait until I have more experience"? I get it. Before my UN workshop, I caught myself making endless lists of things I needed to "master" first.

Here's the truth: if we wait until we feel completely ready, we'll be waiting forever.

What changed everything for me was treating each opportunity like a research project for growth. Instead of obsessing over perfection, I got curious. What did I already know deeply? What could I learn through this experience?

While preparing for my UN workshop, I realised that while my personal journey with confidence was solid, I wanted to understand more about how confidence shows up across different cultures. Instead of seeing this as a weakness, I turned it into an advantage. I reached out to other women, did my research, and guess what? This "gap" in my knowledge actually made my workshop richer and more relatable.

Your Takeaway:

That voice telling you "I don't know enough yet"? It's not your enemy – it's your growth compass. Next time you see an opportunity that makes your heart race (in both excitement and fear), ask yourself: "What do I know right now, and what exciting things could this teach me?"

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Strategy #2: Why Each New Challenge Brings Fresh Self-Doubt (And Why That's Actually Great News)

You know that moment when you're about to step into something bigger than you've ever done before? That familiar mix of excitement and "Can I really do this?" I've been there too.

We often think successful people don't deal with self-doubt anymore – that once we "make it," the uncertainty will fade. I used to believe that after enough workshops, my second-guessing would disappear. (Spoiler alert: that's not how growth works!)

Each career level brings its own flavour of self-doubt. Maybe you're confident leading team meetings now, but a board presentation? That's a whole new territory. Like a promotion, new responsibilities bring new challenges – and that's exactly how it should be.

I've learned to read these feelings differently. That fresh wave of uncertainty when facing a bigger challenge? It's not a warning sign – it's your internal GPS confirming you're levelling up. When those pre-UN workshop jitters hit, I thought "Ah, this is what growth feels like!"

My mind was racing with questions it hadn't asked since my first leadership role. Then I realised something powerful: each previous "first" had its own unique doubts. Each time, I hadn't just survived – I'd evolved. These weren't setbacks; they were checkpoints on my professional journey.

Your Takeaway:

Next time you feel those new doubts creep in, try this reframe: "These aren't old fears repeating; these are signs I'm stretching into new territory." Keep a "Victory Log" of your past wins – each one is evidence that you can handle this new level too.

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Strategy #3: Your Secret Sauce: Turning Your Journey Into Your Advantage

We often get caught in the comparison trap, thinking "There are so many experts out there already" or "Someone else could probably do this better." I felt this exact same way before my UN workshop – scrolling through profiles of other speakers, wondering if I am good enough.

Here's what I discovered: trying to be "as good as everyone else" is the wrong goal. Think about your favourite mentor – you probably connect with them because their unique journey resonates with you, not because they're perfect.

I stopped asking "Am I good enough?" and started asking "What makes my approach different?" This simple switch changed everything. For my UN workshop, I realised my strength wasn't just teaching confidence – it was approaching it with my engineer's mindset.

When preparing for the UN workshop, I didn't try to be like confidence coach. Instead, I leaned into my analytical background, combining systematic problem-solving with authentic stories of my journey. The feedback? Participants loved how I made confidence-building feel practical and achievable.

What I thought might be a disadvantage – my technical background – became my greatest asset.

Your Takeaway:

Next time you're facing a big opportunity, try this: Instead of comparing yourself to others, ask "What unique perspective do I bring to this?" Your background, even if it seems unrelated, might be exactly what makes your approach special. Remember, someone out there needs to hear it exactly the way only you can explain it.

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Your Journey to Confidence Starts Now

Here's what I want you to remember: those self-doubts you're feeling?

They're not stop signs – they're signposts pointing you toward your next level of growth. Every successful woman you admire has felt these same feelings. The difference isn't in having fewer doubts; it's in how you deal with them.

Remember:

• Your knowledge gaps aren't weaknesses – they're your personal roadmap to growth
• New self-doubts mean you're stretching into exciting territory
• Your unique journey isn't just valid – it's your superpower

I shared my UN workshop story not because it's extraordinary, but because I want you to see what's possible when you start working with your self-doubts instead of fighting against them. That workshop taught me something powerful – when you show up authentically, your message resonates, whether you're connecting through a screen or in person.

Start small but start today. Look at that opportunity you've been hesitating to pursue. Pick just one of these strategies and apply it. Maybe it's reframing a knowledge gap as a learning opportunity, or listing three things that make your approach unique.