| I love watching American Idol. I enjoy the discovery of hidden talent, the unabashed passion, and the show’s fast pace.
And I’m constantly inspired by people’s pursuit of dreams in the face of steep competition, enormous vulnerability, and inevitable criticism. This year, however, I’m struck by how many contestants are openly grappling with feelings of inadequacy. I was similarly astonished during the recent launch of our Circle of Excellence mentoring program. Each leader courageously confessed their need for greater leadership self-confidence. And then it hit me… I share their struggle! Each week, I commit to writing this article. And each week, I worry that it won’t be as insightful, pithy, or entertaining as previous articles. I agonize over my shortage of clever ideas. I procrastinate. I question my skills. Playing armchair psychologist, we could diagnose these internal battles as “imposter syndrome” – the pervasive feeling of self-doubt, insecurity, and incompetence despite evident skill and success.” (American Psychology Association) The internalized fears generate thoughts like:
Competence exceeds confidence. We’re better than we think we are. But the antidote is not a shift to confidence over competence – that’s insufferable arrogance! The solution? A shift to commitment over feelings. Purpose over precision. When the importance and meaning of a commitment serve as our beacon, we prioritize growth and progress, not perfection. Only then can our self-belief flourish. We can bear witness to this journey on American Idol. When contestants allow their commitment to their dream to overshadow their feelings of inadequacy, they grow and progress rapidly and demonstrably. Suddenly, this purposeful refocus enables their self-belief to rise like a phoenix from the ashes. © 2021. Ann Tardy and Mentor Lead. www.mentorlead.com | www.anntardy.com |