I have a confession.
There was a time in my life when I didn’t believe I was capable of being COO. I felt other colleagues I knew were better suited for the job, and I would discuss these beliefs with my husband often. While he listed out the positive traits that made me well suited for a higher role, I’d always counter his argument by listing out reasons I wasn’t.
It wasn’t until I attended a leadership meeting that I switched my thought pattern and made my intentions known. I stood up during a session and informed everyone in the room, “I’m going to be the next COO of this company”.
And four months later, I was.
This same concept applied to running a marathon. I assumed it was always a feat out of my reach. But the second I decided I was going to run a marathon, I was running one four and a half months later.
Break free of your limiting beliefs.
Do you see a common theme here?
The main obstacle standing in the way of where I am now and where I want to be are my thoughts and beliefs about my value—and as an aspiring female leader, the same goes for you.
It’s true that everything is in God’s perfect timing. But it’s also true that God is waiting for us to get ready. He’s waiting for us to rid ourselves of our limiting beliefs that we’re not good enough.
So how can we do that? Here are five ways to claim your value as a female leader:
5 ways to claim your value as a female in business
- Get firm in your beliefs. Our beliefs shape our life. There’s a law called the “law of attraction”—it means whatever you think about and believe is what will be in your life. But if your whole focus is on the wrong thing, you might remain stuck where you are now. To break free of this you must focus your thoughts and actions on where you want to be. Adopt new beliefs that support the future you want. When you do this, you’re actually reprogramming your subconscious mind—which is where 95 percent of our thinking resides.
The bottom line? When you think about something all day, whether it’s a positive or negative thought, it becomes your life. So choose wisely.
- Take actions now. Don’t wait until you’re where you want to be to take action. In addition to reframing your belief system to enable the future you desire, you have to take action. So read a book about leadership, attend a conference for leaders, and surround yourself with those in positions you desire. Taking action as you get firm in your beliefs creates the type of harmony your subconscious needs to support the future you are manifesting. And don’t forget to let your boss know of your ambitions in advance.
- Analyze the limiting beliefs in your life. Now is the time to get honest with yourself. What beliefs exist that are stopping you from being where you want to be? Is it that you don’t have enough time, you aren’t smart enough, or that you’re too young/old? When it comes to female leadership, these are limiting beliefs.
The good news? You can change them and you don’t have to live with them. Just because you have a thought doesn’t mean it’s locked in. Instead, analyze it, meditate on it, and pray about it. Thoughts only become beliefs when there are emotions tied to them. So take an objective look at the limiting beliefs that hold you back, and release them.
- Meditate. As you analyze your limiting beliefs, meditate as a daily habit. It’s a scientifically proven way to change your thoughts and your life—and it’s hard work that takes practice. If you’re just beginning, learn how to meditate by doing some research and starting small. Once you make it a habit, meditation will help you ingrain new thoughts into your system.
- Let go of judgment. The Bible tells us that whatever you judge will be judged onto you. What this means is that whenever you judge another person, you harm yourself. This includes judging yourself. As women, this comes in many forms: self-judgment in the workplace, mom-guilt, and more. I encourage you to let it go. By not judging others and ourselves, we become free.
Learn more.
Need more resources for manifesting your future and career?
