Leadership Butterflies

When we look at the leaders we really admire, those heroes who step out and guide us through difficult situations, it’s tempting to believe they are fearless. It’s easy to assume that unlike us, those leaders never get nervous or doubtful or anxious.

But, that’s not true.

I get nervous.

I get doubtful.

I get anxious.

And the truth is, I don’t really expect those feelings to go away.

Leadership is a step of faith. It has to be, because I can’t encourage others to step out unless I’ve stepped out first. I can’t encourage others to dream about the impossible unless I’m willing to do so as well. Unless I’m pushing the edge for myself, I can’t honestly challenge other people to push their own boundaries.

Each time you jump out in an act of leadership, you stretch your comfort zone. You push beyond what you’ve done before and try something new. And doing that is risky. You’re hanging yourself out there. There are challenges and possible failure. But in that moment when you get nervous about the road that lies ahead, you actually have to embrace those feelings. You have to accept that feeling as one of the aspects of the “new normal,” and come to grips with the idea that self doubt is simply a part of leadership.

When you do, when you tell yourself it’s OK to be nervous and make a commitment to push through that feeling, you encourage other people to do the same. You let everyone in your company or family or community know that it’s OK to take risks. It’s OK to step out and it’s OK to have some leadership butterflies. Most importantly of all, you learn how to empathize with the people around you who might be facing their own challenges.

When the doubt shows up, and it will, don’t think you have to stop doing what you’re doing or get tricked into thinking you’re not a “real leader.”

Real leaders get leadership butterflies. And it’s not a sign of failure. If anything, it might be the sign that lets you know you’re about to embark on a journey that was tailor made for you.

This post is categorized Lead