When fear whispers “not enough,” even high performers hesitate—at work, in meetings, or when launching a business. In a recent LinkedIn Live hosted with the Hispanic Heritage Chamber of Commerce (HHCC), I joined coaches Daniela Shea and Natasha Tous to explore how leaders can turn setbacks into fuel. Our conversation centered on three ideas that matter for leadership coaching, inclusive leadership, and any real mindset shift: fear often shows up quietly as hesitation or self-doubt; the stories we tell ourselves can erode confidence; and conviction grows through deliberate practice and accountability.
Two moments shaped my own path. First, “my job left me before I left my job.” Naming it that way helped me own the story instead of letting it own me. Second, my first attempt at entrepreneurship started with courage but not yet conviction; losing direction felt like losing part of my identity—until I reframed what happened and rebuilt on firmer ground. Courage can be brief. Conviction is what stays.
So how do we move from fear to action?
Begin by facing it directly. A simple “failure résumé” (roles you didn’t get, projects that flopped, clients you lost) lets you own the story and capture what you learned. Then reframe with data and systems thinking: What’s the actual evidence? Was this about you—or a broader restructure, leadership change, or culture shift? Look for the silver lining and adopt a growth mindset; failure is often the groundwork for future success, not its opposite.
Finally, build conviction like a muscle. Use micro-actions—speak once in a meeting, ask one tough question, send one clarity email after a setback. Replace silence with proactive communication: Here’s what happened, here’s what I learned, here’s what I’ll do next. Create accountability with a peer, mentor, or executive coach so the new narrative sticks. I even use ritual closure: writing fears on paper, burning them, and discarding the symbol of the past—a physical way to help the brain imprint a new story.
Try this in 10 minutes
- Name one setback in a single clear sentence (no euphemisms).
- Write two learnings and one micro-action you’ll take this week.
- Tell someone you trust—today.
“Silence feeds guilt; communication frees it.” That line from our session captures the shift. When leaders speak the truth of what happened and the lesson it offered, they reclaim momentum and model belonging at work.
Keep building your momentum: explore a mindset reset with the Mindset Matters presentation, map strengths with the Personal SWOT Analysis, or work 1:1 and with teams through executive / leadership / career coaching. To scale culture change, see HR consulting focused on inclusion and belonging, bring these ideas to your organization with speaking or facilitation, keep learning on the blog, or contact me to start a conversation.
