Throughout our lives, there will be times when we don’t have enough.
We want a new car but likely don’t have the funds to purchase it outright, so we take out a loan. It could be that we are buying a new house and have enough money for the downpayment, but not the whole purchase amount, so we take out a mortgage. As a matter of fact, most of us usually expect to borrow when making large purchases. These are socially acceptable practices because we see the need or the vision for what we are investing in.
But what about for ourselves – to move forward? To play bigger? To stop hiding?
Sometimes, that’s exactly when we need to borrow belief from others until we find it in ourselves.
I remember when I graduated from college and started my first job as a secretary at a large corporation. I was the proverbial woman behind the man, and I was very good at it. I was very comfortable with what I was doing, and because of those feelings thought this was what I was meant to do. The shoe fit perfectly, so to speak.
That’s when my boss suggested that I bid on a posted position. It was a supervisory position and a role that I hadn’t seen myself in. I didn’t think I was qualified, but he had a sincere belief that I was, and so I borrowed on his belief and put my name in the hat – and got the job. And discovered I was good at it. It was a turning point for me in my career and a shining example of what belief can do, even if you don’t have it in yourself.
Sometimes we need something a little extra to take a step forward, which can easily be someone else’s belief in us.
I’ve come to realize that I have borrowed belief from others many times throughout my career, business, and life. It was when I left corporate to start my coaching business. When I stepped on a stage and found out that speaking was what I was meant to do, even as an introvert, it was when I stepped into the role as chair of the board for ATHENA International, and so many other instances too.
What I’ve discovered is that it is a strategy. It is a tool that you can use to help you feel less alone in making decisions to move you forward in your leadership and life.
Especially now when you consider all of the labels being thrown about – The Great Resignation, The Great Retention, The Shecession, and The Great Reshuffle, and I’m sure there are others because there is a lot of movement in the labor market. All of this movement can create uncertainty, and uncertainty requires taking risks in our decision-making. But, unfortunately, we don’t have or can’t get all of the information we need to be sure of our choices. And, when it comes to risk, women can lag behind a bit and tend to be more risk-averse.
This is exactly the time to use this tool! Now, more than ever, it’s necessary to “borrow” on someone else’s belief in you.
So what does this strategy look like for you? Here are some ideas to get you started.
Find a Mentor – A mentor is when someone who is more experienced or knowledgeable helps to guide a less experienced or knowledgeable person. That’s it. Who do you know that has wisdom about what you want to achieve? Who has done it? Who do you admire? Whether it is a career mentor, subject matter mentor, group mentor, or a specific mentoring moment, mentoring allows you to “go with others” while figuring out your next steps. Check out my new mentoring online course HERE coming out Q2, and be the first to know when it arrives!
Create an Advisory Council/Board of Directors – I had a conversation with a brilliant woman in financial services this week and she spoke of her advisory council. These are women that she respects and admires as business professionals, but also as people too, and who she has to talk, brainstorm, and plan with. She has purposely selected them to bring her vision to life. I love this, and use something very similar. I call it my board of directors. These are people, male and female, that I trust and admire, and who I consider to have very different gifts than I have, and will give me their time and advice when I need it to continue to build my speaking and coaching business, and keep serving amazing people like you!
Who do you know that you can tap into for their wisdom and advice? Who do you know that has very different gifts or would give you different advice to consider? Who can help you move forward with your eyes open and make more educated decisions?
Seek Your Champion/Cheerleader – Who is it in your life that isn’t necessarily tied into your industry or business, but flat out supports you? Close friends or family? For me, this is my husband. He has a little bit of an idea of what I do but has never seen me speak on stage. He has no idea what it’s like running a speaking and coaching business, and yet, he is my biggest champion. He reminds me to have fun when I get too serious or too focused (and, yes, that’s a thing!). Who can be your champion?
Get a Coach – We get in our heads and in our own way far too often. We recycle thoughts that don’t support us and limit our visions because we can’t see beyond them. A coach is someone who can ask the questions you need so your answers can percolate to the surface. Your answers. You don’t need to look outside of yourself to find what you need, it’s digging into what is covering it up. Coaching allows you to make decisions and be accountable for them. It’s a relationship that is designed to support you, with belief, and so many other things. If I can support you, hit reply or message me, and Iet’s talk to see what that may look like.
Join a Mastermind – Masterminds as powerful groups. You’ve heard the phrase that many hands make for light work. Well, in the case of a mastermind, its many minds make for light work. It is a group of like-minded individuals that join to be supported, but also to support equally the others in the group – kind of like a rising tide lifts all boats! These are such a key element to my success, that I belong to 2 of them and also run them as part of my coaching membership community and for clients. When you find the right one, it’s worth every second of time you invest in them!
I hope that these strategies have you thinking differently about yourself, your potential, and your influence in getting exactly what you desire! Until the next time, here’s wishing you the Clarity (and the Belief!) you deserve.
Be well,
Debbie
P.S. Ready to take charge of your career? Figure out your next steps, next level or next chapter with this FREE career & leadership resource. Claim your Career Clarity Workbook here at www.5DayCareerClarityWorkbook.com, and start getting the answers you need for what’s next.
