Real Leadership: Awaken What’s Possible and Surprise Yourself

Have you ever been around someone who surprised you by what they accomplished? Maybe it was a colleague who landed a dream role, a friend who ran a marathon, or a team member who presented with confidence you didn’t know they had. And have you ever stopped to ask yourself why it surprised you?

Often, our surprise says more about us than about them. Somewhere along the way, we start quietly labelling things in our own lives as unlikely - that promotion, that business idea, that bold career change. These labels become invisible limits. And yet, watching others achieve what we once thought out of reach can shake something awake inside us.

In my work with leaders and teams, I see this all the time. People’s goals - long buried beneath busy schedules and self-doubt - are suddenly reawakened simply by witnessing others go after theirs. It’s as if they’ve been waiting for permission to believe again. Sometimes all it takes is seeing someone else do it to remember that it’s possible for you too.

So, here’s a question worth reflecting on:

Who are you spending time with?

Who are you inspired by and who might you need to stop comparing yourself to?

Where your attention goes, your energy follows. If you’re constantly focusing on what others have that you don’t, you’ll stay stuck in self-critique. But if you look for what’s possible, in yourself and in others, you’ll start to rewire how you see your own potential.

Action Builds Confidence

Early in my confidence research I read The Confidence Code, by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman. They share a powerful insight: confidence grows through action. 

It’s not something you wait to feel before you start - it’s something you build by starting.

I love this because it removes the illusion that confidence is a personality trait that some people are born with. It’s not. It’s learnable, measurable, and repeatable - and it’s developed every time you expand your comfort zone and take action, even when you don’t feel ready.

Think back to something you’ve achieved that you’re proud of. Maybe you delivered your first keynote, led a challenging project, or had a courageous conversation that changed the course of a relationship.

What was the catalyst that made you act?

Was it encouragement from someone you trusted? Was it frustration with staying stuck? Or was it inspiration from seeing someone else do what you thought you couldn’t?

Get curious. Make a list of the moments that moved you to action. You’ll start to uncover a pattern - your personal drivers. And once you know what sparks your courage, you can deliberately recreate it.

Awakening Potential - Yours and Others

Helping people realise their true potential is the heartbeat of my work. There’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing someone unlock a truth that was sitting quietly inside them all along. That moment when their eyes light up and they say, “I didn’t think I could do that.”

Because the truth is - most people can. They just haven’t had the mirror held up yet to show them who they already are and what they’re capable of.

Confidence isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about remembering who you are and acting from that place - again and again - until it feels natural.

If your organisation would like to learn more about building confidence in leadership, get in touch with me for booking enquiries.

Because the most powerful surprise you can give yourself - and your team - is discovering the potential that’s been there all along, waiting to be awakened.

#RealLeadership #Confidence #LeadershipReflection #MichelleSalesLeadership #LeadWithConfidence