Brenda’s Blog

💡“I’m not ready,” my client said. “I’m not that great of a leader!”💡

This client had just become the head of an organization—overnight. The former leader’s sudden physical decline left a void, and without a proper succession plan, my client was thrust into the role.

We had an open, honest conversation during which the client admitted, “I genuinely don’t feel ready for this. I want to be, but I’m honestly not that great of a leader.”

I reminded the client not to speak against what they truly wanted.

“I hear you, Brenda, but what do you want me to say instead? That ‘I AM a great leader?’ It’s too far from the truth—I don’t believe it. It’s not real.”

“I understand,” I replied. “That kind of phrase can feel like forced optimism, and that’s not sustainable. But what if you rephrase your wording to say something like, ‘I am LEARNING to be a great leader’? Is that a statement you would feel comfortable with?”

“Actually, yes… I like it. That works for me.”

I continued. “Think about it… When you were learning to ride a bike as a young child, you probably fell a few times, right? But that didn’t stop you from getting back on the bike. When you’re in the process of learning something, you give yourself a break – you allow yourself permission to fail – because, after all, you’re learning.”

This mindset shift made all the difference. Through coaching and constantly reminding themselves to embrace the “I am learning to” mindset, this client went on to become a *very* good leader.

🔑 The takeaway? Embrace the process. Allow yourself the space to learn and grow, and you might just surprise yourself with what you can achieve.

➡️ What about YOU? Is there something in your work or life where you could benefit from applying the phrase “I am learning to…”? Would love to hear your thoughts!