Let’s talk about something many of us have experienced during our leadership and career development- that sneaky feeling of resistance and self-doubt creeping in as we achieve more milestones.

It’s like reaching for the stars, only to find ourselves navigating internal self-talk that can compromise our wellbeing, confidence and performance.

I’ve heard countless stories from clients and colleagues, and it’s clear that this experience isn’t unusual. As our businesses and careers develop, so do the challenges we face. It’s normal for growing businesses and more senior leadership roles to bring greater responsibility, but there is an important difference between manageable pressure and something deeper that begins to feel heavy and unsustainable.

How can self-doubt affect leaders?

Handling stress and pressure is no easy feat, particularly for leaders juggling multiple responsibilities.

Many of us develop go-to methods for coping, but as responsibilities increase, those practices can slip. Suddenly, we can find ourselves faced with internal dialogue that begins to affect our confidence, self-belief and ability to sustain our performance.

So how sustainable is success if it’s not built on a healthy foundation?

What happens when success doesn’t feel sustainable?

There are a few different paths we can find ourselves taking.

Option 1: Retreat to what’s comfortable

You could end up returning to a safe and familiar, therefore less stressful place, that may compromise your career progression. Almost like an invisible elastic band keeps snapping you back, it can put you into a safety loop that feels good to start with but may end up making you feel resentful and unfulfilled.

Option 2: Keep pushing

You continue in your current success, but the constant demands and stress feel like they are slowly draining your energy and passion. It’s like holding a trick Yoga pose; eventually, exhaustion takes over, and you cannot sustain it.

Now, here’s the game-changer…

Option 3: Challenge the pattern

Cut the elastic band!

Explore the beliefs and thought patterns that may be keeping you stuck in those compromising success loops. Developing greater self-awareness as a leader gives us an opportunity to recognise our patterns and make more conscious choices about how we respond to challenge and pressure.

When you embrace internal mindset shifts, develop effective practices and reconnect with what matters to you, success can begin to feel more sustainable rather than something you constantly have to push yourself to maintain.

So, if you find yourself feeling a subtle drain despite your achievements, it might be worth looking a little deeper. Increasing your self-awareness and understanding what is driving your thoughts and behaviours can be an important part of your continued development as a leader.

What does success mean to you?

For me, success isn’t just about what you achieve externally. It’s also about the learning, development and transformation that can take place within.

Leadership development isn’t simply about acquiring more skills. Sometimes it’s about understanding yourself better- your mindset, your motivations, your strengths and the patterns that can either support or limit you as your responsibilities grow.

Embrace the journey, embrace the shift and let your potential develop with you.

Bryony Moore
Bryony is a Leadership and Management Trainer, Consultant and Coach at Jarrold Training, specialising in leadership development, coaching, workplace culture and Insights Discovery®. She works with organisations to develop people and teams through practical learning and consultancy that supports both individual and business performance.