Whether you’re stepping into your first big role or preparing others to step into theirs, readiness begins inside. It’s not about checking off more boxes. It’s about believing in what’s next for you and trusting that you can lead from there.
That’s why your mindset matters more than your resume.
Why This Matters
Most leaders aren’t stalled by what they don’t know. They’re stuck in a loop of trying to learn more, do more, prove more. Getting ready to get ready. But all that effort doesn’t guarantee forward motion. What holds them back isn’t skill; it’s a lack of belief.
For emerging leaders, it might sound like: “I need to be 100% qualified before I make a move.” Especially for women. That’s backed up by a Hewlett-Packard report showing women tend to apply only when they meet all the qualifications, while men apply when they meet just 60%. That difference in belief? It matters.
For seasoned leaders, the voice might say: “Maybe I’m not who I used to be.” Or, “The new generation is more prepared than I was.” In reality, a 2021 DDI study shows senior leaders often underestimate the support they need to grow in changing environments. Readiness isn’t about comparison, it’s about evolution.
Here’s the truth: these aren’t facts. They’re beliefs. And if you don’t pause to question them, they’ll quietly run the show.
What Gets in the Way
It usually starts small. A quiet moment of doubt. A shift in responsibilities. A comment that lingers too long. One thought becomes a pattern. That pattern becomes a belief. And before you know it, that belief becomes part of your identity.
And if that identity says, “I have to have it all figured out,” or “I don’t belong here,” then that’s the lens you’ll use to lead.
Leadership isn’t about who you’ve always been. It’s about who you’re becoming. And becoming requires awareness.
The Shift: Building a Readiness Mindset
You don’t need more credentials. You need more clarity. That begins by noticing your thoughts and asking: Is this helping me move forward, or holding me back?
That’s where reframing comes in. As someone trained in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), I teach reframing to almost every leader I coach. It’s the art of looking at your thoughts from a new perspective. Not to dismiss what’s real, but to reveal what’s possible.
Reframing gives you back your options. You stop defaulting to the same old story. You lead from possibility instead of fear. You shift from hesitation to action.
Try it:
- Instead of “I’m not ready,” ask “What if this helps me grow into readiness?”
- Instead of “Others are better than me,” try “I’m bringing something different to the table.”
- Instead of “I have to do this perfectly,” try “I’ll learn what I need as I go.”
This is where your clarity begins. When you reframe, you don’t just change your mind, you change your momentum.
Your Next Clear Move
Take 10 minutes today and examine one belief that’s been holding you back.
Ask:
- Where did this belief come from?
- Is it still true?
- What belief would serve me better?
Let’s stop measuring readiness by what you’ve done. Let’s start measuring it by what you’re willing to believe about who you are becoming.
You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You need to trust that growth starts the moment you give yourself permission to lead from within.
I’ve seen what happens when leaders do this, and I’ve lived it myself. The confidence returns. The clarity sharpens. The momentum builds.
Because readiness isn’t about knowing more, it’s about believing better.
