What if doubt was a positive?

What if doubt isn’t a leadership failing, but a leadership skill?


In my experience, one of the things that holds women back most from stepping into opportunities… is self-doubt.

All the reasons we give ourselves not to.

Jacinda Ardern knows this well.

Eight years ago, she was catapulted into the position of New Zealand Prime Minister. In a recent interview, something she said made me prick up my ears.

When she first stepped into her role, she had huge doubts about whether she was equipped for it.

After a brutal day in the debating chamber, she asked a colleague how she could "toughen up". She was advised not to, as it would mean losing her superpower: her empathy.

Over time, she began to see doubt not as something to eliminate, but as something that could actually strengthen her leadership.

We often worry that questioning ourselves, or acknowledging a “confidence gap”, somehow disqualifies us.

Especially women. Especially in leadership roles.

Yet, as Ardern points out, that doubt can trigger something positive.

Preparation.
Curiosity.
Seeking out expertise and listening more carefully.

In other words, doubt can be an expression of humility, not incompetence.

As she put it:

”If you privately doubt yourself, don’t rule yourself out of leadership. Some of the best leaders I know brought that kind of humility to the job. And we need more of it.”

In my work, I see this a lot.

What sounds like hesitation is often care. What looks like uncertainty is often a deep desire to do things well.

Leadership doesn’t require certainty at all times.

It requires clarity of intent, and the humility to learn.

And perhaps we need more leaders who are willing to hold both.

Photo by Koon Chakhatrakan on Unsplash