We all have times when we doubt ourselves, when life throws us a new curve ball and we just don’t know how to handle it.  And frequently that means stress, anxiety, and self-doubt.

Self-doubt often shows up during moments of transition: new roles, higher visibility, difficult decisions, or unfamiliar expectations. It is rarely a sign of incompetence. More often, it is a signal that you are stretching beyond what is familiar. Leaders who learn to manage self-doubt effectively do not eliminate it. They learn how to work through it without losing momentum or confidence.

How do you maintain your confidence when sailing uncharted waters? You use Reference Points of Success™.

Reference Points of Success™ work because your brain responds to evidence, not reassurance. When you document moments where you faced uncertainty and succeeded anyway, you create a personal body of proof.

Use this practice intentionally:

• Review your list before high-stakes conversations or decisions

• Revisit it when self-talk becomes overly critical or absolute

• Update it regularly as your responsibilities grow

Developing confidence during uncertainty is a core part of resilient leadership under pressure, especially when leaders are required to make decisions without perfect information.

Over time, this shifts your internal narrative from “I don’t know if I can handle this” to “I’ve handled hard things before, and I can do it again.”

What did you do and how did you achieve it? 

What resources did you call upon? 

What new behaviors did you put into action?

What worked best?

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