LEADERSHIP | Stop being your own worst enemy

LEADERSHIP | While conducting numerous workshops on self-esteem over the last three decades, I have come across many participants who regarded themselves as being incompetent, inadequate or unlovable.

One senior manager rejected an offer to be the CEO of a leading Malaysian insurance company because he “perceived himself” as not being competent enough to lead the company effectively. He became a victim of self-doubt and never optimised his true potential.

Another “victim” of low self-esteem was an attractive, 25-year-old woman who stood 152 centimetres tall. She lacked self-acceptance due to her belief that she was “too short”. This belief resulted in her viewing herself erroneously as being “unattractive”. Due to this faulty self-image, she never fully portrayed her positive personality traits and also shied away from men.

There were other participants who disliked themselves for being dark-skinned, being overweight, bald, or having hairy legs and...