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Confidence Isn’t What You Think: Why Leaders Hold Back (and How to Move Forward)
Confidence is often described as the secret ingredient of leadership — the courage to take risks, the steadiness to make tough decisions, and the presence to influence others. Yet many highly capable professionals, especially women, hesitate to step forward. Not because they lack skill, but because they doubt themselves.
True confidence isn’t about perfection, knowing it all, or faking it until you make it. As The Confidence Code puts it, confidence is “the stuff that turns thoughts into action.” It’s grounded, steady, and built over time through repetition and reflection.
Research shows a persistent confidence gap: men often apply for roles when they meet 60% of the qualifications, while women hold back unless they meet 100%. The difference isn’t ability — it’s self-belief.
The truth is, confidence is not fixed. It’s a choice, built one imperfect step at a time. And with practice, it grows stronger.
Why Feeling Stuck in Your Career Might Be the Best Thing That’s Happened to You
Feeling stuck in your career doesn’t mean you’ve failed—it’s actually a signal that change is on the horizon. That uncomfortable “messy middle” is where clarity begins to emerge. Often, what hides beneath stuckness is a deeper question: What does growth look like for me now?
Sometimes it’s about organizational fit, sometimes it’s boredom, lifestyle, or the nature of the work itself. The key is peeling back the layers and noticing where you thrive. True career growth isn’t about fixing weaknesses—it’s about leaning into your strengths and designing a path that energizes you.
Instead of seeing stuckness as a problem, see it as a turning point. With reflection and the right roadmap, it can become the very gift that launches your next chapter.
Craft Your Career Around Your Strengths – Not Just Your Skills
Most career advice tells us to double down on our skills. But being good at something doesn’t always mean it’s where you’ll thrive. Skills make you capable — strengths make you come alive.
I learned this lesson firsthand after building a career in environmental law. On paper, I was “successful.” In reality, I felt drained. The breakthrough came when I discovered the difference between skills and strengths: skills are learned, but strengths are your natural wiring — the patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior that energize you.
When you build your career around strengths, engagement, confidence, and fulfillment grow. In fact, people who use their strengths daily are six times more likely to be engaged at work.
This article explores why strengths matter, why we often overlook them, and how you can start crafting a career around what truly makes you thrive.
How to Craft a Daily Well-Being Practice That Actually Sticks
Well-being isn’t fluff—it’s the foundation that fuels how you show up in your career and life. The difference between your drained 1.0 self and your thriving 2.0 self comes down to daily choices. Small, consistent well-being investments—like movement, rest, mindfulness, or connection—rewire your brain for balance and resilience. The key isn’t willpower, it’s habits. Start with one simple practice, make it easy, and repeat it until it sticks. Over time, those tiny actions compound into the calm, focused, energized version of you that can handle stress and thrive. Your well-being plan isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s yours to design.
The New Workplace Imperative: Prioritizing Well-Being in an Uncertain World
In today’s unpredictable world, workplace stress is at an all-time high, leaving engagement and morale at record lows. While we can’t control economic uncertainty, political division, or rapid change, we can control how we care for our own well-being. Well-being isn’t a perk—it’s the foundation for resilience, focus, and sustainable performance. By investing in even one area—whether that’s physical health, social connection, or career satisfaction—we create positive ripple effects across every part of life. This article explores Gallup’s five elements of well-being, practical strategies for professionals, and why organizations that prioritize employee well-being see stronger engagement, retention, and trust. In a world that isn’t getting less stressful, well-being isn’t optional—it’s essential.
What to Do When Something Feels Missing in Your Career (Hint: Change 20 Percent of Your Job)
What if the feeling that something’s missing in your career isn’t a signal to quit—but an invitation to realign? In this post, we explore why even high-performing professionals can feel disengaged and what to do when your work starts to feel flat. You’ll learn why a full career overhaul usually isn’t necessary—and how making just a 20% shift in your responsibilities can reignite purpose, energy, and satisfaction in your role. Whether you’re craving more challenge, meaning, or momentum, this article offers a practical, mindset-driven way forward.
Rethinking Feedback: How to Build Growth Without Breaking Trust
Let’s face it—giving feedback is one of the hardest things we do at work. Whether it’s to a direct report, a peer, or even your boss, it can feel awkward and emotionally charged. In my coaching sessions—and after 30 years in management—I’ve seen that even seasoned leaders often struggle with it. Sometimes feedback sparks growth. Other times, it creates confusion or resentment.
One common myth is that there’s a single “right” way to give feedback. In reality, it depends on context. Today’s workforce spans multiple generations, and each person brings a different communication style. That means feedback needs to be thoughtful and tailored.
Some of the biggest mistakes include delaying feedback, being vague, or turning the conversation into a one-way lecture. Saying “You’re not meeting expectations” without specifics doesn’t help. And waiting too long to bring something up only makes it harder to address constructively. Feedback that is too general or delivered without clarity erodes trust and rarely leads to improvement.
The most effective feedback is specific, timely, and rooted in real behavior—not assumptions. Instead of saying, “This isn’t strategic,” try “I’m struggling to see the big picture in this plan.” It shifts the tone from judgment to insight. Make space for reflection, too. Ask questions like “What were you aiming for?” or “How did that feel to you?” Often, people course-correct when given the opportunity to reflect.
Tailoring your tone to the individual also makes a difference. Some people value direct feedback; others need more context or warmth. And always assume positive intent. Most people want to do well—they just need clarity, support, and space to grow.
Ultimately, feedback shouldn’t be about fixing people. It should be about helping them develop what’s already working. When it’s done right, it builds trust, strengthens performance, and helps people bring their best to the table. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress.
The Confidence Myths Holding You Back at Work
One of the most common themes I hear from leadership clients is a lack of confidence. Many believe they need to feel confident before they take action—whether that’s navigating conflict, speaking up, or leading a team. But here’s the truth: confidence doesn’t come before action. It grows because of it.
We often buy into myths like “confidence requires certainty” or “confidence is granted by others.” In reality, confidence is built through experience—by taking small, intentional risks, learning as you go, and grounding your worth in effort, not external praise.
For women especially, the confidence gap is widened by social conditioning and perfectionist tendencies. But the good news? Confidence is trainable. It starts with simple, consistent “reps”—like asking a bold question, voicing an idea early, or owning your wins out loud.
You don’t need to wait until you’re ready. Start small. Start now. That’s how confidence is earned.
You Don’t Find Purpose at Work—You Create It
From the outside, it looked like I was chasing a mission—clean air, clean water, a better world. But what I’ve come to realize is that purpose doesn’t come from an organization's mission. It comes from how you show up every day. Whether you're saving lives or sorting spreadsheets, purpose is something you activate—not something you're handed. This post is about how to find meaning in your work, no matter your job title—and why just 20% of your time spent doing what you love can change everything.
Why Leadership Isn’t About Your Title—It’s About Influence
You don’t need a title to be a leader. In fact, waiting for one might be holding you back. True leadership isn’t about authority or hierarchy—it’s about presence, self-awareness, and how you connect with others. Whether you're managing a team or influencing without formal power, your greatest leverage comes from knowing your strengths and understanding those around you. In this post, we’ll explore how to lead from where you are—no title required. Because leadership isn’t something you’re handed. It’s something you step into.
Why Strengths—Not Just Skills—Are the Key to Sustainable Success
When professionals ask me what skills they need to get to the next level, I always pause—because while it’s a fair question, it’s often not the right one. Skills may open doors, but it’s your strengths—the traits you lean on instinctively—that help you thrive once you’re inside.
I learned this firsthand when I stepped into my first leadership role. I had the credentials, the experience, and a stacked résumé—but I was overwhelmed. It wasn’t more skills I needed. It was alignment with how I naturally lead best.
In coaching, I see this all the time: leaders chasing another certification or course, when the real unlock is using what they already have—more strategically, more intentionally. Your strengths aren’t just what you’re good at. They’re how you energize others, influence outcomes, and solve problems in your own distinct way.
The real question isn’t “What should I learn next?”
It’s: “What do I already do best—when I’m at my best?”
Using Strengths to Navigate Career Uncertainty
Career uncertainty doesn’t always arrive with fanfare. Sometimes it creeps in—subtle, persistent, and hard to name. Other times, it crashes in: a layoff, a role that drains you, or a promotion that looks good on paper but feels off in practice. In those moments, it’s tempting to search outside ourselves for answers—new jobs, new certifications, new plans.
But one of the most powerful tools for clarity isn’t external. It’s internal. It’s your strengths.
Strengths aren’t just things you’re good at—they’re the activities that leave you feeling energized, focused, and deeply effective. They’re your natural way of working when you’re at your best. When you tune into them, you begin to see where you thrive, what work truly fits, and how to navigate uncertainty with greater confidence.
You don’t need to start from scratch. You need to start from strength.
The Real Reason Leaders Struggle: Emotional Intelligence Isn’t Optional
You’ve mastered strategy, deadlines, and decision-making. But the real challenge? It’s people. Emotional dynamics—not technical hurdles—are what test even the most capable leaders. Emotional intelligence (EI) is the leadership edge that turns competent managers into transformative leaders. In this post, we explore why EI matters more than IQ in leadership, what emotionally intelligent leaders do differently, and how you can build this game-changing skill—starting today.
Ambition vs. Alignment: Why Career Success Alone Might Not Be Enough
"I had checked every box—title, salary, recognition. Yet something still felt off. That’s when I realized: I wasn’t out of ambition. I was out of alignment."
In a culture that prizes achievement, it’s easy to keep climbing without ever pausing to ask: Am I climbing the right mountain?
This post explores the subtle but powerful difference between ambition and alignment—and why even the most impressive career can feel hollow if it’s not rooted in your own values.
If you’ve ever felt the quiet ache of success that doesn’t satisfy, this one’s for you.
How to Be Happier at Work — Without Quitting Your Job
How to Be Happier at Work — Without Quitting Your Job
Feeling stuck, drained, or uninspired in your job? You're not alone — and you don’t have to quit to feel better.
For many of us, the idea of being happier at work feels tied to a major life change: a new job, a new company, a new path entirely. But what if the key to more fulfillment wasn’t about leaving — it was about shifting how you show up in the role you already have?
Enter job crafting — a simple, science-backed strategy that allows you to bring more meaning, energy, and purpose into your workday, without changing your title or employer. Rooted in positive psychology, job crafting helps you align your day-to-day tasks with your strengths and values so that your job works for you — not just the other way around.
Whether you’re feeling close to burnout or just craving more connection to your work, the good news is this: you have more control than you think. And it all starts with a few intentional tweaks.
Redefining Career Success: Aligning Your Work with Your Internal Compass
What If Success Isn't What You Think It Is?
When was the last time you stopped to ask yourself what career success really means—for you? Not the kind that racks up accolades or ticks off corporate milestones. We're talking about success that feels authentic, energizing, and deeply satisfying.
The truth? Success isn't just about what you do—it’s about who you are while you're doing it. It’s about aligning your daily work with the strengths that come naturally, the interests that light you up, and the values that keep you grounded.
In a world full of external expectations and social media highlight reels, this kind of success often gets drowned out. But once you start tuning into your internal compass, you’ll find that real fulfillment starts showing up—not just in your career, but in your life.
Jump Start Your Productivity and Focus: Four Steps to Overcome Procrastination
We’ve all faced tasks left untouched for too long, feeling overwhelmed as procrastination drains our energy and motivation. It's often a sign of burnout, misalignment with goals, or fear of imperfection. Shift your mindset by identifying the first strategic step, clearing your workspace, and visualizing success. Break tasks into five-minute actions, leverage accountability, and align work with your energy peaks. Transform procrastination into purposeful productivity.
How to Stop Fear from Taking Over When You're Facing Career Uncertainty
Career uncertainty can be overwhelming—whether you love your job but fear it won’t last, feel stuck in a role you’ve outgrown, or have no idea what comes next. Fear often keeps us paralyzed, filling our minds with worst-case scenarios and self-doubt. But anxiety is the brain’s big lie—it pushes us to retreat, even when no immediate danger exists. The key to moving forward? Interrupt the fear cycle, take small actions, and lean into curiosity and connection. In this blog, we’ll explore five practical steps to stop fear from taking over and regain control of your career journey.
Creating Tiny Habits: How to Succeed with Mini-Habits
Building better habits doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Enter mini-habits: tiny, manageable actions that make creating lasting change simple and stress-free. By starting with ridiculously small goals—like doing one pushup or flossing a single tooth—you can harness your brain’s natural ability to form habits. Mini-habits work because they focus on consistency, not intensity, making success easy and sustainable. Over time, these small actions compound into significant transformations, proving that even the smallest steps can lead to big results.
