Overcoming Self-Doubt as a First-Time CEO

Stepping into the role of CEO for the first time is often described as jumping out of an airplane and trying to build a parachute on the way down, as you have to make so many last-minute decisions that you might not be prepared for. While the title brings authority, it also brings a crushing weight of responsibility that can trigger intense self-doubt, often known as imposter syndrome.

Most of the world’s most successful leaders have felt the same when they’re put in their first CEO role, as it’s an unfamiliar situation. There are different ways to navigate and overcome self-doubt during your first year as a CEO, helping to give yourself more confidence in the role so you can be the leader you’re destined to be.

This guide will help you with overcoming self-doubt during your first period as a CEO. Continue reading to kickstart your journey today.

How to Overcome Self-Doubt

Use it to Grow Yourself

Having self-doubt doesn’t mean that you lack ability, as you’re in the position of CEO for a reason. You’ll need to constantly operate outside of your comfort zone, giving you the best chance to showcase your ability. If you didn’t feel a hint of trepidation, you likely wouldn’t be challenging yourself enough so having some self-doubt is completely normal and means you are pushing yourself to the next level.

Instead of seeing doubt as a stop sign and a place to give up, view it as a proceed with caution sign as you take tentative steps to complete your business goals in a leading position. Feeling the pressure means you are likely entering a high-growth phase, so using this as a chance to find new paths to success will be key.

Be Transparent

Many first-time CEOs think they need to have every answer to maintain respect, but CEO’s that act as if they know everything and that they’re always right often lose the trust of their team. It is okay and respectable to say, “I don’t have the answer to that yet, but here is how we are going to find it.” This can lead your team in the right direction without giving them instructions that suggest your solution is the only way forward.

If you need some help, seek it. Surround yourself with experts who are smarter than you in their specific domains to give your business the best chance of succeeding. Your job isn’t to be the smartest person in the room; it’s to ensure the smartest people are aligned and in the positions they need to be in, helping you lead with integrity.

Build a Support Network

The CEO role can be lonely if you try to go at it alone. Find a group of other first-time CEOs and talk to them about how they operate their business to give you a clearer insight into how to move forward. Realising that everyone else is also struggling with similar issues is the quickest cure for imposter syndrome.

Get training from a coach or a former CEO who has been through what you are, as they can offer you advice on how they dealt with it and became the success they are today. They can provide the objective perspective you lose when you’re in the thick of a crisis. For example, if you are the CEO of a restaurant in Romford, you can get in touch with former CEOs of similar venues to ask for the tricks of the trade.

Focus on Input

As a CEO, you are often judged by metrics out of your immediate control, such as market shifts, investor sentiment, and the global economy. If your self-worth is linked solely to the stock price or the latest round of funding, your confidence can be all over the place. You need to manage the ups and downs accordingly, so you can gauge what you’re doing right and wrong.

Grade yourself on the quality of your decision-making and the health of your company culture. Ask yourself if you followed a sound process, if you listened to your team and the outcome is what’s intended. If yes, you’ve done your job, even if the outcome wasn’t perfect, so don’t get yourself down and focus on the next project instead.

Keep Notes of Your Wins

When doubt hits hard, your brain tends to ignore your past successes, so it’s always important to remind yourself of the things you’ve done well to keep your mindset positive. Keep a list of all your wins; write it down on a digital folder or a physical notebook of positive feedback. This can help you to keep track of successful product launches and milestones reached.

Reviewing this during a low point provides your brain with the information to realise that you are actually qualified for the job, so you can become the CEO you were always meant to be.

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