Have you ever suffered from imposter syndrome? I have. I think we all have, at one point or another. The challenge is we cannot be effective leaders if we don’t understand our own value. Significant leaders find a way to move past any potential imposter syndrome with a core knowledge of their own value.
You see, there is a profound difference between self-confidence and self-esteem. Self-confidence tells you that you can perform a particular task well. It tells you that you are capable. That is undoubtedly important for leadership.
Self-esteem, on the other hand, is a much more crucial factor in leadership. Self-esteem tells you that you have value because you exist and are, therefore, worthy of merit. Self-esteem tells you that your value does not rest in who your parents are, what your country of origin is, who you’re married to, or dating, what your title or position is, how much money you make, what your abilities or disabilities might be, what kind of car you drive, who’s name is stitched into the label of your clothing or shoes, what size you wear, what color your skin, hair or eyes are – or any other external factor society might use to place value on a person. Every person’s value rests simply in the fact that they exist. That value doesn’t have to be earned, and it cannot be purchased. It just is.
Understanding our own value, and the fact that our value is not affected by anything external to ourselves, frees significant leaders to be humble. That may seem contradictory, but a leader can be confident and humble simultaneously. Arrogance usually grows out of a lack of self-esteem, not an over-abundance of it. We cannot treat others with respect if we don’t respect ourselves. Essential number one of The Nine Essentials of Significant Leadership is understanding your own value.
Read Lauren’s Whitepaper on The Nine Essentials of Significant Leadership.
