Healing the corporate spirit
How to heal as leaders and lead with heart
Many of us have found ourselves in positions where we are living in our manifested lives wondering how did I get here? … in disbelief of our achievements, and feeling lucky. We feel like we’re ‘playing office’ and waiting for someone to barge in and scream ‘Get out of my chair!.’ This is because most of us suffer from what I call the ‘Why me’ phenomenon (imposter syndrome).
When Mfano Growth Coaching was founded in 2020, I designed the service offering to help professionals and entrepreneurs harness their power within to grow their businesses and win in their careers. And over the last three years, I have found that awareness is the most powerful tool we have. It allows us to best use that power to overcome challenges we face and conquer feeling like an imposter.
THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR
Many of us never really identify with the term ‘imposter syndrome’: not because we are confident in what we do and the life we find ourselves living, but rather because we struggle to identify that we are suffering from it. So, how do you know?
- Constant feelings of being lucky − Don’t get me wrong, we all have a moment of luck: a unique opportunity where you are prepared and met with being at the right place, at the right time. The issue comes when you know deep down inside how much preparation and hard work you’ve put into achieving your goals and still feel lucky. Tell yourself: this opportunity didn’t just come, I met it with preparation.
- Surely there’s someone more qualified − The world we live in is highly competitive, especially now with social media making access to talent very easy for companies and businesses. Having said that, when you find yourself constantly feeling like there is someone better than you in your field and working out the ‘probability of me making it’ – you must confront the possibility that you suffer from imposter syndrome. Tell yourself: the opportunity was given to the best person for the job and that is me.
- Negative self-talk − At Mfano Growth, we advocate for being true to yourself and being aware of how you contribute to the situations you find yourself in. Personally, I am no stranger to constructive criticism and feel that we all should learn to grow from it. The key here for leaders is to also be able to guide themselves with empathy, positivity, and a deep understanding of what drives them to succeed. Allow yourself to dwell on the positives and strengths of your character.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Own your brilliance. Leaders who are comfortable in knowing that they have worked hard to meet the opportunities they are presented are often able to lead others to the same place. Remember, your power comes from your awareness of how you are feeling and perceiving situations. It is up to you to overcome the moment, because you will have more moments. And lead with heart.
