During our careers, we’ve all come across leaders who just really seem to know their stuff. They understand the intricacies of their industry. They revel in their craft and can speak confidently on just about any issue.

At first, interacting with great leaders like this can feel a little bit intimidating or discouraging. You may think you should just give up now because you’ll never operate at their level.

Those feelings are natural. We all want to be the best we can be at the things that matter to us.

When those thoughts pop into your head, though, it’s important to remember that the leader that stands before you was not always as self-assured and knowledgeable as they are today. In fact, at one point in their career, they were probably bad at their job.

They got to where they are today because they were willing to suck. They were willing to stretch themselves, try something new, and fail.

Perhaps most importantly, they were willing to use their failures as opportunities to sharpen their skills and enhance their leadership qualities.

Personal Example 1:

Early in my career, I was really bad at making tough decisions without running them by my boss. One day, she went on vacation, leaving me to make important calls on my own.

I was terrified, but I did the best I could. In the end, everything worked out fine.

When my boss returned, I told her my story. She laughed and said, “Emily, you need to pretend I’m on vacation more often. I need you to make these types of decisions. It’s your job.”

From that day on, I began training myself to feel okay with being uncomfortable but still making the best calls I could. My decision-making skills have improved immeasurably since then.

Personal Example 2

When I first started making podcast appearances, I sucked at them. I would get really nervous, and I often felt like the hosts were interrogating me. I also hated the sound of my own voice.

Since then, I’ve appeared on dozens of podcasts. I’m still not perfect, but I’m a hell of a lot more comfortable and confident than I once was.

I now enjoy meeting the hosts and answering their questions. Sometimes, I even learn something from them! 

(If you’d like to see how far I’ve come, head to my Media page and check out my first couple of podcasts. Then have a listen to one of my more recent ones. The difference is astonishing.)

If you are reading this blog and thinking, “That’s all well and good, but I can’t do things like that. I haven’t done anything like that before,” ask yourself how much emotional energy you used to tie your shoes or drive to work this morning.

At one point, those tasks were new and scary. You were bad at them. Now, they’re automatic.

The same will be true for anything else you do in life. You’ll suck at first, but if you work hard and continue honing your craft, you’ll be a seasoned expert before too long.

Remember, if you use adversity in the right way, it’ll become a ticket to a place you couldn’t have gotten to without it. 


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About The Author

Emily Sander is an ICF-certified leadership coach with more than 15 years of experience in the business world and the author of Hacking Executive Leadership. She’s been featured in several print publications, online articles, and podcasts, including CEO Today Magazine, Leading to Fulfillment, and Leadership Powered by Common Sense. 

Emily has a passion for helping business leaders reach their full potential. Go here to read her story from seasoned executive to knowledgeable coach. If you want to send Emily a quick message, then visit her contact page here.