Leadership Confidence: Embracing Your Unique Leadership Style

“How can I become a more confident leader?”

As a professional woman and mother in leadership, confidence is crucial for success. However, it can be challenging to lead with authenticity when you’re facing imposter syndrome and self-doubt. It's Day 5: Work-Life Flow for Women in Power: A 7-Day Series to Overcoming Self-Doubt and Unlock Your Full Potential. In today’s article, we’ll explore different styles of leadership, an example of authenticity in a successful woman leader, and tips for developing a confident and effective leadership style.

Leadership styles

There are various styles of leadership. The four primary leadership styles are autocratic, democratic, laissez-faire and transformational. Leadership style is a combination of personality, experience, and emotional intelligence. As a leader, you may intuitively know your preferred style or have taken an objective test to figure it out. The key is to identify and embrace the style that best aligns with your values, strengths, and team needs. Understanding and accepting your unique approach to leadership is essential because it determines how effectively you communicate and motivate a team towards a vision. However, what stops many leaders from succeeding or excelling is not a lack of skillset but a lack of self-confidence and feeling imposter syndrome.

One of the most empowering examples of embracing one’s unique leadership style is that of Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo. She has a transformational leadership style and brought her authentic self to her role by openly discussing her struggles as a working mother and the importance of work-life balance. Her honest, empathetic and inclusive leadership style allowed her to connect with her team and drive the company to new heights.

How to lead with confidence in the face of self-doubt

To develop a more confident and effective leadership style, consider the following tips to shake off self-doubt and imposter syndrome:

Reflect on your values, strengths and accomplishments: Take the time to identify your core values and natural strengths as a leader. This self-awareness will help you align your leadership style with your authentic self. Remind yourself of past accomplishments and celebrate your past and present successes to boost your confidence.

Admit that you don’t have all the answers: Being honest and open that you don’t know everything removes the weight of the expectation that you’re a superhero and shows that you are simply human. It can help to reframe yourself as an authority and not an expert.

Be open to feedback: Seek input from your team and peers, and be willing to adapt and grow based on their feedback. This will improve your leadership skills and demonstrate your commitment to your team’s success.

Learn from other leaders: Study the leadership styles of successful women you admire in your industry or field. Identify the traits and strategies that resonate with you and consider how you can incorporate them into your leadership approach.

Develop your communication skills: Effective communication is a cornerstone of confident leadership. Practice active listening, clear and concise messaging, and empathy when interacting with your team.

Build a supportive network: Connect with other women leaders, join professional organisations, or participate in mentorship programs to have open discussions and gain valuable insights and support as you develop your leadership style.

Consider working with a coach: A professional coach can provide personalised guidance and support to help you sharpen your leadership skills, boost your self-confidence, and overcome imposter syndrome.

Understanding and embracing your unique leadership style is essential for overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome. It allows you to lead with confidence and authenticity. You can develop a more confident and influential leadership style by understanding your values and strengths, remembering past accomplishments, seeking feedback, and learning from other successful women leaders. And remember, working with a coach can be an invaluable resource for honing your skills and boosting self-confidence.

Stay tuned for Day 6 of our series, where we’ll discuss the importance of developing a strong support network to help you overcome self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Subscribe and join me in the Work-Life Flow for Women in Power series to further explore how to unlock your full leadership potential.

Together, let’s conquer doubts and fears and unleash the confident, successful leader within you.

Let’s make your success healthy & happy!

Dr. Masi

Disclaimer: The content in this newsletter and related LinkedIn posts is for informational purposes only and not medical advice. Views expressed are those of Dr. Masi Njawaya and Herself Health and not any official organisation. Consult a healthcare professional for personalised advice. Use this information at your own risk.