4 Ways to Overcome Doubt

There is a unique tension that exists between belief and doubt. For many of us, it’s easier to believe than to doubt. We tend to shy away from doubt because we think that if we have doubts, it means we don’t believe that we can be successful. The truth is that doubt can be a powerful tool when we use it correctly.

Doubt isn’t a problem to be solved, it’s a tension to manage. Holding onto belief and removing all doubt robs you of the opportunity to grow and change. Belief without doubt = ego. It’s dangerous to think you’re always going to win. If you’ve gotten to the place where you think you’re always going to win, then it’s probably time to change yourself, or your goals.

Here’s the thing: if you’re not experiencing doubt, or a lack of assuredness, then your goals probably aren’t aggressive enough. 

It’s good to have aggressive goals and it’s okay to doubt them, as long as you’re using those doubts to your advantage. Here are four ways to overcome doubt:

#1. Admit that doubt exists. 

Don’t be the type of person who believes that success will just happen without a plan in place to get there. Achieving success once doesn’t mean that you’ll achieve it that same way again. Have doubts, then use those doubts to force yourself to change and grow.

#2. Recognize that you don’t have to do it alone.

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together” - Ancient Chinese Proverb

If you’re experiencing doubts, just ask for help. Don’t hide bad news or pretend that everything is great when it isn’t. Change the way you think about bad news. Bad news is good news because it exposes things that require more attention.

#3. Shoot the elephant.

“If you don’t share information that’s critical to the success of your organization, you’re being disloyal. “ - Chris Heaslip.

We have this mentality at Leadr that, if there’s an elephant in the room, someone has to be the one to shoot the elephant. Be the person who steps forward to have hard conversations. When you don’t allow for honest and, at times, difficult conversations, you end up breeding a toxic culture of distrust and misalignment. So, don’t be afraid to shoot the elephant.

#4. Weaponize your doubts.

“If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Turn your doubt into an objective thought that leads to progress. Don’t just let your doubt sit, do something about it. When you break down your doubt into actionable steps forward, that’s when your doubt can actually power your belief.

When we doubt something, it doesn’t mean that we don’t believe in it – it means that we are willing to explore all options and make sure that we are heading in the right direction. Don’t let doubt stop you from achieving your goals. Instead, use it as a tool to help you achieve even more.

MT

At Leadr, we help you engage and grow every person on your team. Book a demo with Leadr today.