Self-doubt is one of the most difficult hurdles to overcome in leadership.

Self-doubt can become a persistent, powerful voice that holds us back from stepping into our legacy.

In over 15 years of coaching leaders, I talk with so many about getting their "swagger" back or possessing a holy confidence. Every great leader possesses it. To get there, however, we have to overcome our self-doubts.

Let me be your digital coach by giving you six ways to overcome your self-doubt.

Stop Being a Perfectionist

Consider this: if you can look back and be proud of everything you've done, you probably haven't learned anything. Celebrate your progress. Don't focus on what you're not. Don't focus on what you can't do. Don't focus on your failures. Focus on lessons learned. Don't be a perfectionist. Don't worry about "excellence." Focus on consistency and persistence. It's not how good you are, it's how good you want to be!

Enjoy the Journey

Growth and learning are the real fun of leadership. If you're not happy now, you won't be happy then. In my new book, Measuring Success, I talk about how the most important choice you can make today is to have joy in your life and to enjoy the journey. Don't be afraid to laugh at yourself. Enjoy the journey, not just the destination. Stop beating yourself up. Stop being your worst critic. Believe in yourself as much your God believes in you.You are His child, and He has big plans for you!

Do It Your Way

Counterfeit and copycat leaders are easy to spot and difficult to follow in the long run. Stop being a copycat. Stop trying to be like everyone else. You may need filters in your life that lead you to discover your unique attributes. Dave Ramsey says: "If you live like no one else now, you will live like no one else later." May that be your permission to be the best version of you.

Stop Listening to Most People

Don't listen to "most people." Most people will be armchair quarterbacks or jealous critics. At the end of the day, you should only be listening to three voices in your life. Listen to people who: love God (makes them other-focused), love your vision (makes them loyal and supportive) and love you (makes them be honest with you). Most people don't fit that criteria, but trusted people do!

Filter Your Eyes and Your Mind

You've heard the old adage: "Garbage in, Garbage out," but I don't believe that's entirely true. Some garbage stays inside! Filter what you watch, whom you listen to and with whom you surround yourself. Set boundaries around negative people and influences. Hang out with positive people.

Get a Coach

Every leader needs a coach. Someone who's further along the leadership journey than we are, teaching us what they have learned. I can honestly not remember a time when I left a conversation with one of my coaches that I did not come away inspired, encouraged and more confident! I simply believe every leader needs a coach, for this, among many other reasons. Get a coach!

Shawn Lovejoy is the founder and CEO of CourageToLead.com and the author of Measuring Success: Your Path to Significance, Satisfaction, & Leading Yourself to the Next Level. He leads teams of coaches whose passion is coaching leaders through what keeps them up at night. He loves helping organizations and ministries accomplish their potential and gain or sustain momentum. Shawn has led a successful real-estate business, a fast-growing megachurch and now a fast-growing coaching organization. He has been married for 25 years to his best friend Tricia, and they and their three children live in Birmingham, Alabama.

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