3 Ways to Overcome Negative Thinking for Effective Leadership

Nadine Seaga on Mastering Mindset for impactful leadership

It took me nearly a year to accept an offer for a new leadership position in an industry I knew nothing about. And then, when I finally said “yes”, it was another 3 months of suffering with “bambi” legs as I struggled with finding my footing and figuring out how to lead a team that had far more industry knowledge and experience than I did.

The one thought that pulled me out of the downward spiral of questioning my abilities was this…

“They hired me to do this job and that’s what I’m going to do”. - Nadine Seaga

The thoughts that managers and CEOs harbour, directly influence their actions and shape how they show up as a leader. Unfortunately, negative thinking often becomes a stumbling block, hindering the journey from good to great.

Stumbling manager trying to move from good to great.

5 Common Thoughts that Prevents Effective Leadership:

  • Imposter Syndrome: Despite their achievements, many leaders struggle with feeling undeserving or fear of being exposed as not knowing what they’re doing. These thoughts erode confidence and hinder decision-making.

    This decision-making paralysis leads to overthinking, indecisiveness, and a reluctance to take risks. This hesitancy impedes progress and hampers the ability to seize opportunities.

  • Fear of Failure: Leaders face immense pressure to succeed, but the fear of failure can paralyze their ability to take calculated risks, stifling innovation and growth within their teams.

    This discourages their team members from thinking outside the box and exploring new possibilities.

  • Perfectionism: Leaders who obsess over perfection sometimes struggle to delegate, excessively micromanage, and create an environment that stifles creativity and autonomy.

    This often impacts their level of productivity.

Manager not productive due to obsessive perfectionistic behaviour.

  • Comparison Trap: Constantly comparing themselves to others which creates thought patterns that inhibit collaboration and prevents them from appreciating their unique strengths; leading to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.

    This limits their personal growth as they shy away from challenges and learning opportunities.

  • Negative Self-Talk: Internal dialogue filled with self-criticism, doubt, and pessimism severely undermining their ability to inspire and motivate their team.

    This hampers their ability to convey their messages whether it is a clear vision, expectations or meaningful feedback.

    These negative thoughts arise from high expectations, the fear of being judged, past failures and a general lack of self-awareness.

“Thinking Makes It So” - Shakespeare

3 Strategies to Change Negative Thoughts:

  1. Cultivate self-awareness: Start to recognize your triggers and switch your focus to your strengths and possibilities.

  2. Foster a growth mindset: Think of mistakes and failures as opportunities for growth and learning. Celebrate the lessons you learn and create a culture that values continuous improvement.

  3. Use your imagination: Visualize successful outcomes and take the actions of the leader who makes that happen.

These strategies changed my mindset which changed my life and the life of the managers and leaders I’ve coached over the years. You too can experience a profound transformation that will have you making decisions confidently, inspiring your teams, and creating an environment that fosters innovation, effective communication, trust, clarity and enhanced productivity.

Unlock Your full potential and pave the way for extraordinary leadership.

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I’m Nadine Seaga and I’m a Mindset & Leadership Coach, Founder & Chief Energy Officer (CEO) of People Development Consultants. I can help you to harness your full potential and the full potential of those you lead! Schedule your Clarity Call Here

Nadine Seaga