I recall the first time I was put in charge of a group of people. I felt very confidant until I realized they were all looking toward me for some kind of answer or decision. An editor of a prominent magazine once told me, “it’s like they are expecting you to tell them which path to go down, when you haven’t even figured out if a path exists.” Another great leader once told me, “You really make it up as you go along.”
The recent movie, “The King’s Speech”, depicts the challenges all leaders face. The King, despite his stuttering problem, feels compelled to make powerful speeches to inspire his country in a time of war. The movie shows that while the end product is a powerful speech, the process for that speech is often filled with doubt, anguish and frustration. So where is the doubt coming from?
Having worked as a life and business coach, I have had the experience of sitting with many great leaders before they make their speech or decision. I have heard the doubts and seen the fears. What I have noticed is the tension always seems to stem from the same two questions:
“Am I am making the right decision?"
“When it is all said and done, will they understand the message?”
Self-doubt is actually a large part of leadership. In fact, I have never met a leader that was not filled with self-doubt. It seems odd that the leaders we admire for strength and courage actually experience doubt. Often when we think of great leaders we think of those great speeches made in tough times, but leadership is much more complex than this. Leadership involves making decisions that guide others, and for this reason there is an obvious risk in every decision. A wise leader is aware that every decision directly impacts others.
Example: A very good friend of mine manages a large business in Saskatoon. She is one of the best leaders I have ever encountered. I have had the grace to work with her on many projects where we had to strategize difficult solutions. What always amazes me about this person is her awareness of how her decisions will impact every person in the organization, including the janitor. For this reason, she puts a lot of time into consciously deliberating every decision. She never assumes she has “got it” and is always questioning the process.
Ultimately, it is normal for all leaders to question themselves, but the best leaders make this questioning part of the process. In fact, I am concerned when I meet someone who does not question his/herself and believes that everything will go exactly as planned.
