You’ve worked hard, built a successful career, earned the title, the influence, the responsibility, and yet, quietly, persistently, a question still lingers:

“Am I really good enough to be in this position?”

If that thought has ever crossed your mind, you’re not alone. In fact, it’s more common than you think. At Noo Coaching, I work with senior leaders who appear confident and accomplished on the outside,but internally wrestle with self-doubt, second-guessing, and the weight of expectation, which is exactly what I experienced and eventually burnt out.

This is what I call the Leadership Confidence Gap and it’s a challenge worth understanding and addressing, notjust for your own wellbeing, but for the success and health of the people you lead.

My Story

In my 20s and 30s, I had so much confidence at work that I didn’t ever stop to question whether I was good enough. I worked hard, I progressed, and I trusted my instincts.

But in my 40s, everything shifted.

I started stepping into Head of and Senior Leader roles. On paper, I was the expert. People looked to me for answers. But inside, I wasn’t always sure if my answers were right, I was also second guessing myself, trying to please everyone but feeling like I was failing.

Leadership felt lonelier the higher I climbed. I had no one to check in with, no safe space to explore doubts or reflect and gradually, that weight became overwhelming. I hit burnout.

That experience changed everything. It’s why I do what I do today.

Because behind many senior titles are people who are quietly carrying doubt, pressure, and responsibility, without the support they need.

If this resonated with you, please know that you’re not the only one questioning yourself.

Many leaders I work with quietly wrestle with thoughts like:

• “Do my team really respect me?”
• “Am I good enough?”
• “What if I’m getting it wrong and no one’s telling me?”
• “I’m leading, but I don’t feel like I’m leading well.”
• “I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing.”

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These doubts don’t mean you’re unfit to lead, they mean you’re self-aware, reflective, and deeply committed to doing a good job.

The Confidence Gap

There are several common roots behind the leadership confidence gap, including:

• High personal standards and perfectionism
• A lack of feedback at the top
• Comparison and imposter syndrome
• Constant pressure to perform and deliver
• Being alone and perceived expert in your role and carrying that weight

This doubt can manifest itself into:

• Micromanaging
• Avoiding difficult conversations
• Holding back bold ideas
• Over-functioning or doing too much yourself
• Stress and Overwhelm
• A lack of confidence when needing buy-in from others
• Trying to please everyone

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These are signals, not flaws, just signs that your confidence needs support.

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To help you start to re-build your self-confidence, try these three simple things and practice them weekly until you start to believe them:

1. Reconnect with your strengths and start to utilise these in your work
2. Reflect on past leadership wins rather than doubts and fears
3. Shift your mindset from proving yourself and getting everything right, to asking great questions to build understanding of what others need

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You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need a space to explore your leadership identity, without pressure, performance, or judgement.

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That’s what coaching offers.

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And if you’re reading this and recognising apiece of yourself in my story, reach out, even if it’s just for a chat, a call doesn’t need to mean you’re committing to anything.

Or download my free Strengths Snapshot worksheet to get started.

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And finally… something Noo!

I’m excited to share something I’ve been quietly working on behind the scenes - a brand Noo Coaching Framework designed specifically for leaders who are feeling lost, stuck, burnt out, or facing career change. It's called the NooWay™, and it’s all about helping you move from surviving to thriving.

To bring this to life, I’ll be launching a pilot group coaching programme at the end of July and I’d love for you to be part of it. In return for your feedback, I’m offering the full pilot programme at a discounted rate of just £600 per person.

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Here’s what’s included:

·       A3-month transformational journey

·       Fortnightly90-minute group coaching sessions

·       Practicaltools, worksheets, and resources

·       Asupportive group of like-minded leaders

·       A proven framework to help you gain clarity, confidence, and direction

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Places are limited to just 10 participants.
👉Register your interest here to get early accessand be the first to hear more about the launch: NooWay™

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Let’s make your next chapter your best one yet and create your NooWay™.

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