 Early in my hospitality career a seed of an idea began to grow in my mind. What if I created a gathering of like-minded women who were seeking the same kind of community, connection and leadership development that I desired for myself? For a long time, this idea swirled in my head and then the doubt began to set in. Is it really a good idea? Would other people want to attend? Would it be good enough? Am I good enough to do this? Self-doubt is a silent but powerful force that can prevent us from pursuing new opportunities and achieving our full potential. Whether it’s applying for a new job, starting a business, stepping into a leadership role, or in my case creating an event, self-doubt can creep in, making us question our abilities and worthiness. While it’s natural to experience some uncertainty when facing new challenges, allowing self-doubt to dominate can keep us stuck in our comfort zones, missing out on the growth and fulfillment that comes with taking risks. There is evidence to support that feelings of self-doubt, may be more pervasive for women than men. According to a 2014 article from The Atlantic, “The Confidence Gap”, women can be less likely to speak up, ask for promotions, or advocate for themselves in the workplace than their male counterparts. A study by Carnegie Mellon Professor Linda Babcock found that in a sample set of women negotiating salaries for their jobs, only 7% of women negotiated compared to 57% of men. Even when offered a promotion, women can be surprised and turn them down because they doubt their abilities to carry out the role (Sponsoring Women Leaders: What you Might be Missing) Self-doubt, while maybe more prevalent in women, is not exclusive to women. One of the questions I often ask my guests on The Travel Leader Podcast is “when have you under-estimated yourself”. Whether female or male, the most resounding answer is “ALL the time”.
Fear of Being a Fraud (Imposter Syndrome)
Strategies to Overcome Self-Doubt While I continue to experience self-doubt on a regular basis, I can thankfully look back with pride that I was able to turn that seed into flower and launch Accelerate Women Leaders in Travel in 2019. We’ve since held our retreat for five years and continue to grow our reach and impact. I can’t imagine now, not taking that step, but it took some very specific actions to make it happen. First, I voiced the idea out loud. I began with two people in the industry I trusted and asked them what they thought about it. Feeling more confident that the idea was valid, I started with one conversation with a person I knew who had run significant events in the past. She then referred me to someone else…and the rest is history. Overcoming self-doubt requires a combination of self-awareness, practical strategies, and a commitment to personal growth. Here are some effective strategies to help you move past self-doubt and take on new opportunities with confidence:
It is is challenging, and it is a mental repetition of saying I can do it, I am enough, I am still in the process...- Viviana Wilkins, Director of Asset Management and Investor Relations TLT Solutions Reframe Negative Thoughts:
Once the negative self talk begins, do not let it linger. Get it out of your head immediately. Do that so you can move forward. Because if you do nothing, nothing will happen. - Portia Hood, Director of Sales and Marketing, Hilton Seek Support and Feedback:
Reflect on Past Successes:
Embrace a Growth Mindset:
Self-doubt is a natural part of the human experience, but it doesn’t have to hold you back from pursuing new opportunities. By understanding the specific fears that fuel your self-doubt and applying strategies to overcome them, you can build the confidence to step out of your comfort zone and embrace the possibilities that lie ahead. Remember, growth often happens outside of what’s familiar, and the only way to truly know what you’re capable of is to take that leap.
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This blog post was originally published in 2022. One of my latest podcast episodes warranted a revision and addition of new thoughts and contribution on the topic from guest Lisa Garner.  Photo credit: ChatGPT4o Communication has got to be one of the most emphasized and underdeveloped work and leadership skills. How many times have I heard or said, “you need to communicate better”? If its so important, why do we struggle to get it right? Mid-way through my career, communicating effectively as a leader, is a skill I work on daily. I spend a lot of effort un-learning what I thought good communication to be usually through trial and lots of errors. I’ve written emails that I thought were perfectly fine but received angry responses in return. I’ve had conversations with employees and the employee quit by the end of it. I’ve posted things social media that didn’t sit well with our audience. By definition, communication is simply the exchange of information between individuals. Effective communication, however, is a much more complicated phenomena and fraught with land mines where it can blow up in your face. In my experience, communication has gone wrong for me because I believed that the goal was to impart information to another person and make sure they understand what ever that information may be. When in fact, there is really just one goal, for every kind of communication: to build trust. Who are you most likely to take advice from? – A friend you trust. What advertisements convince you to buy a product or service? – Those that come from a company or brand you trust. When do you best receive feedback in your work? – When it comes from a manager you trust. Effective communication starts with a genuine mindset shift that when we are exchanging information, we are also open and genuinely receiving what is coming from the other. When the other person, or your target audience believes in your authenticity, trust begins to form. There are practices that support this trust building.
5. Self-awareness – reflecting on your own mistakes, checking in with your ego, assumptions and biases.
6. Clarity – as Brené Brown would say “Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind”. 7. Transparency - explaining the "why" and sharing information even when people may not like it. Watch a clip from my recent episode on The Travel Leader Podcast with guest Lisa Garner from Concord Hospitality Enterprises in which she describes how she implements transparent communication with her team members to build trust. The above is no means an exhaustive list of trust building practices or elements of effective communication. However, having the above practices in mind before starting a conversation, email, presentation or marketing piece, is a great place to start if you are looking to increase your communication efficacy and build more trust. |
AuthorRachel Vandenberg is a leadership coach living in Stowe, Vermont with her husband and three children. Rachel also owns and operates a hotel and attractions property with her family. She sits on the board of the local tourism association and also created a leadership retreat for women leaders in travel. Archives
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