Susan called today. She is applying for a director level position in radiology. She has previously been a radiology technician. She is finishing her MBA and now wants a management position. She has earned this promotion. But there is a little voice in the back of her head whispering doubt.
Have you ever heard that voice? The doubt voice?
I have. Sometimes in coaching we call them “gremlins”. These little gremlins sit on our shoulders whispering doubt and negative thoughts into our ears. My gremlins whisper about looking stupid and not having the credentials to move forward. My gremlin is about competence.
My daughter, Marissa, is an awesome, talented creature. In college she interned for an Ohio state representative. After a few years he grew to depend on her, putting her in charge of all his correspondence. One day she called me in a panic. Jay asked her to take a meeting with some citizens who wanted to talk with him about health care. This is a subject on which she was well versed. She did the state rep’s research on the topic. She demurred. She called me because she wasn’t sure what to do.
What do you think I told her?
I gave her a long lecture about having the courage of her convictions to step up. She was ready. She should turn right around, go back to the state rep and say with conviction, “Of course I will take that meeting”. When is a better time than now?
Marissa did exactly that. She took the meeting. She was very nervous but afterwards said it was not as scary as she thought it would be.
Recently I saw this play out in my own life. I was thinking about the need to do this certain kind of marketing for The Interview Doctor. I caught myself saying, “Maybe in a few years when I have more experience I can try that.” Seriously? I am in my mid-50s. When exactly will I have enough experience to tackle something new? When I am in my 70s? Granted I want to be trying new things when I am in my 70s but why can’t I start right now?
Our gremlins want us to stand still, go back, stay where we are. Your conscious mind knows you need to move forward. What should you do?
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