Self-Doubt and the Female Entrepreneur
Recently, I joined a women’s book club where we’ve been exploring The Art of Change by Nancy Levin. Levin, a transformational coach, specializes in helping individuals create lasting changes across all aspects of their lives. The book’s themes deeply resonated with me, especially during a recent conversation I had with a friend. She confided in me about her struggle with self-doubt as something she’d like to change, and expressed fears about launching her own business. We had an open, heartfelt exchange about how self-doubt can creep in and hold us back. That conversation stayed with me, and I’ve found myself reflecting on the impact of self-doubt ever since. It’s made me think more critically about how we allow it to influence our decisions, particularly when stepping into something new and uncertain, like starting or growing a business.
Self-doubt is something that’s quite pervasive when it comes to many female entrepreneurs. At times it comes from our own internal fears, at other times from societal expectations. Wherever it arises, it manifests as imposter syndrome. There might be a little voice in your head that says you’re not qualified, or you don’t deserve success. The truth is, if you’ve built your business and have nurtured your vision, you absolutely deserve success.
Luckily there are steps you can take to help you with overcoming self-doubt.
The first step to overcoming self-doubt is recognizing that you are not alone– it’s a universal feeling. Many women, particularly those in leadership positions, struggle with the fear that they’re not “good enough.” The first step is always to acknowledge this when it happens. Acknowledging this helps to neutralize its power.
The next step is to learn how to reframe your negative thoughts. When self-doubt creeps in, think about ways you can make the phrase positive. This is an opportunity to challenge your inner critic. You can do that with facts: look at your business accomplishments, think about positive things people have said to you regarding how you operate. It might be challenging at first but soon it will become second nature to stop negative thoughts in their tracks.
Another key strategy is to seek support. We at MyCEO often talk about the importance of mentorship and networking. Having a community of fellow female entrepreneurs can be invaluable. Very often we don’t see our own accomplishments and need an external nudge to remind ourselves of what we have achieved.
Remember, you’ve already proven you have the skills, resilience, and determination to succeed. Keep reminding yourself of that truth, and watch your self-doubt disappear.
