As a C-level executive, you're responsible for leading your company to success. It's a high-pressure job, and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed or even inadequate at times. However, it's important to remember that you are in your position for a reason - you have the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to make a positive impact.
Feeling empowered as a C-level executive is crucial not just for your own well-being, but also for the success of your team and the organization. When you feel empowered, you're more likely to take balanced risks, make sharp strategic decisions, and inspire your team to reach their higher potential.
So, how can you stop feeling small and start feeling empowered? Here are some concrete suggestions you can try:
1. Practice mindfulness and positive self-talk
Recent findings in neuroscience have shown that the way we talk to ourselves can have a profound impact on our mood and behavior. If you find yourself thinking negative thoughts or doubting your abilities, try to consciously shift your focus to your strengths and capabilities.
This can help retrain your brain to view yourself in a more positive light.
Additionally, practicing mindfulness - such as meditation or deep breathing exercises - can help you stay focused and present, reducing feelings of overwhelm and anxiety.
2. Set achievable goals and track your progress
One way to build confidence and feel empowered is to set achievable goals for yourself and your team. By breaking down larger goals into smaller, measurable milestones, you can track your progress and celebrate your successes along the way.
When you achieve a goal, no matter how small, it reinforces a sense of accomplishment and builds momentum towards future success. This can help you feel more in control of your work and more empowered to tackle new challenges.
3. Surround yourself with positive influences
The people we surround ourselves with can have a huge impact on our mindset and outlook. Seek out mentors, coaches or colleagues who inspire you and can offer guidance and support. Joining a professional association or attending industry events can also provide opportunities for networking and learning from others.
Additionally, make an effort to build positive relationships with your team members. When you foster a culture of positivity and support, everyone is more likely to feel empowered and motivated to succeed.
4. Embrace failure as a learning opportunity
Finally, don't be afraid to take risks and embrace failure. Failure is a natural part of the learning process, and it's through our failures that we grow and develop new skills.
By reframing failure as a learning opportunity rather than a personal flaw, you can take more risks and feel more empowered to pursue your goals.
Of course, this is easier said than done - no one likes to fail. But by adopting a growth mindset and viewing failures as a chance to learn and improve, you can take more calculated risks and feel more confident in your abilities.
Feeling empowered as a C-level executive is all about taking control of your mindset and actions. By practicing mindfulness, setting achievable goals, surrounding yourself with positive influences, seek for external or internal help when needed and embracing failure, you can start feeling more empowered and confident in your abilities.
So, take the first step towards feeling empowered today. Choose one concrete action from the above tips and commit to doing it this week. By taking action, you'll start to build momentum and create positive change in your life and career.
At Brighter Leaders we strongly believe you have what it takes to succeed - it's just a matter of embracing your strengths and taking control of your mindset. We also know we all sometimes need an outside eye to help us zoom out and see the broader perspective in order to then zoom in and take empowered action with the aid of proven processes and easy to use tools.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us and share your current challenge. We will be more than happy to assist you.