How To Pivot And Slay Your Way Into Your Inner CEO Power

By: Amanda Lien

Have you been second-guessing yourself lately? Do you worry you’ve fallen victim to impostor syndrome? Do you sit at your computer every day and freeze up a bit, staring at your to-do list while thinking, “Oh my goodness, who qualified me to be able to do this?!”

Trust me: You’re qualified because you got yourself this far.

But it doesn’t always feel that way. Jessica Dennehy, founder and CEO of Pivot & Slay, has seen it time and time again: women eager to start their own business find themselves freezing up and holding back. And, she says, it’s not even because they can’t do it – it’s because they’re afraid to try.

For Dennehy, that feeling of “Who qualified me to do this?!” is an old enemy. When she started her company, she wanted to utilize her skills to help empower business leaders to pivot their business and mindset so they can achieve their goals and enjoy the freedom that comes with success. But first, she had to tackle the feelings that were preventing her from doing the same.

Battling those feelings of fear and inferiority aren’t easy, but Dennehy’s simple mindset hacks will empower you to take charge of your emotions, pivot from your negative feelings, and slay any roadblock that is before you. Easier said than done? Hardly!

Believe in yourself.

Sounds cheesy, maybe, but no one is going to believe in you unless you eat, sleep and breathe belief in yourself. Dennehy says:

It’s all about your mindset. Do you wake up and cheer yourself on? Or do you wake up and hold yourself back?

Start paying attention to all the little things you do every morning when you sit down to work toward your goals. Are you second-guessing the emails you write or the client calls you take? Or are you tackling each item on your to-do list with vigor?

Being mindful about how you think of yourself is more important than ever when you’re trying to take your business, career, or life to the next level. Dennehy says:

I’ve noticed a lot of people lose belief in themselves because they’re afraid to take risks. Sure, everyone is afraid to fail. But think about it this way – every risk you take only has two possible outcomes. It can either be a success or a lesson. No matter how bad your failure might be, there’s always room to bounce back. But you can’t bounce back unless you have a solid belief in yourself.

[Related: How Time to Think Can Help You Do Your Best Work]

Just go for it.

It’s time to make moves. The longer you stay stuck, the more likely it is you’ll never be able or willing to take action. That’s why Dennehy’s number-one piece of advice to her clients is to do something:

Standing around endlessly pondering choices will kill your business fast. If you make a bad decision, you’ll at least learn a lesson. But anything is better than not making a decision at all.

Nothing is guaranteed in life, and that can be the source of a lot of stress – especially when starting a new business. But entertaining that stress and letting it shape the way you live your life is no way to be. Dennehy says:

I don’t know many successful people who got it right on the first try. Life isn’t about staying stuck in indecision or in your mistakes. You have to pivot away from what doesn’t work and move toward what does. It’s like that saying, ‘Let go of what doesn’t serve you.’ Your indecision isn’t serving you, so it’s time to move on.

[Related: How Failure Actually Grows Your Innovation Culture]

Follow your inner compass.

Your gut instinct is often that first thing you feel right before the fear kicks in and tries to talk you out of whatever your heart desires. Dennehy says the trick is to shift that fear into calculation:

Taking a risk might feel crazy and illogical, but often our gut feelings have the right idea and that’s the thing we should listen to. Business ownership is all about taking risks that are calculated and intentional. If your gut is telling you something, make sure the reward is worth the potential risks, and go for it!

Sometimes it just takes a little bit of logic to outweigh the anxiety a tough decision or uncertain future causes. By focusing on your gut instinct, and on evaluating what you have to gain by following your inner compass instead of the fear that follows, you’ll start training your brain to trust itself – which makes you a great decision-maker and an excellent leader!

While impostor syndrome is a tough beast to tackle, you’re certainly not alone in the struggle. By following Dennehy’s tried-and-true tips for overcoming fear, following your gut, and investing in your own self-confidence, you’ll be more equipped than ever to reach for your wildest dreams – and trusting yourself to tackle whatever might come your way like the boss you know you are.

[Related: When is the Right Time to Make a Career Leap?]

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Amanda Lien writes and edits PR and marketing content for C-level executives, award-winning PR agencies, publishing houses, and more.