Co-heads of the Coaching Scholarship Faculty at The Marketing Academy Australia, Clare Robinson (founder of Clarety Coaching & Consulting) and Leigh Morrison (founder of Be.Transition Coaching) explain why self-worth is the underappreciated secret to leadership success.
As an industry that tends to place a lot of emphasis on awards, promotions, and glowing results for clients and peers, success in marketing often seems tied to external validation. Yet, as we rise through the ranks to leadership roles, this external validation diminishes.
Without the pats on the back, many aspiring leaders are left in a precarious position – doubting their abilities, making comparisons to others and feeling like a fraud. All of these are frequent conversations with leaders in the coaching room.
Compounding this further, as marketers and agency folk, we are creative by nature. What we do isn’t a straight line, it’s subjective – which can erode self-esteem. The journey through creativity is often fraught with self-doubt, and our identity can become intertwined with the work and what we do.
Shifting focus inward
The transition from individual contributor or manager to “leader” requires a shift in focus and frankly, is a totally different set of capabilities to build. From seeking external accolades to cultivating a strong internal sense of self-worth. This includes separating our identities from professional achievements and instead, focussing on how we are showing up as a leader.
Our role as leaders is to inspire and influence others, yet without a solid foundation of self-worth, and a clear vision of the impact you want to create, this becomes challenging. True leadership and self-worth begin with self-leadership. As the old adage goes, ‘put on your oxygen mask before helping others’ – we must learn to value our own needs, talents and contributions first to create a stable grounding within to be of service to others.
The journey within is a deep dive that is confronting a lot of new leaders. You have to be prepared to hold the mirror up to question your patterns of behaviour, limiting beliefs, and your own contribution to others, which may be difficult to do, especially alone. At first, self-leadership is breaking down beliefs and strategies that have helped you be successful in your career so far but may not get you to the next level of leadership. It can be scary to release the tight grip but it’s entirely possible.
By embracing self-worth, which is ultimately self-love, leaders can navigate these inner complexities with greater ease and clarity. This switch to internal validation enables leaders to show up with energy, purpose, and authenticity, and empower those around them to succeed. Ultimately benefiting their teams, organisation, industry – and ultimately our society.
Five ways to cultivate a strong sense of self-worth as a leader
As co-heads of the Coaching Faculty at The Marketing Academy, which has been operating in Australia for 10 years, we know the challenges marketing leaders face all too well – and how best to overcome them.
Self-awareness is crucial in this journey and The Marketing Academy Scholarship has a strong focus on developing it. Access to a one-to-one leadership coach, such as those provided in the program, can play a vital role in the process of understanding yourself more deeply and ultimately, building a more fulfilling future.
- Create a vision for the kind of leader you want to BE: All too often we define ourselves by what we do or the results we want to have. Becoming a leader is about knowing who you are here to serve and what positive impact you want to create on those around you, the business and potentially your industry.
- Identify Your Values: One of the ways to start defining who you want to be is to reflect on what truly matters to you, your values. Seek a tool that can help you to define these and also transform them into choices you make on how to think, feel and act.
- Understand Your Strengths: Discover where your strengths lie and what skills and tasks energise you. The Clifton Strengths Finder is a great tool for this. Understanding and connecting your values and strengths can guide your decision-making and bolster your confidence.
- Practice Reflection: Regularly assessing your achievements and areas for improvement by asking yourself what you did well, what you learnt and what you could do differently next time, can develop an internal feedback loop that builds confidence. For an extra boost, seek feedback from people you trust. Research shows that leaders who actively seek feedback are seen as more effective, trustworthy, authentic and respectful.
- Embrace the Tension: Recognise that resistance and self-doubt are part of the creative process. Both in the technical work you do, and as you grow as a leader, this is a creative process too. Rather than avoiding difficult feelings, embrace them as messages to learn from and signals you’re on the right path.
Investing in your personal growth today will not only enhance your career but also empower you to lead your teams and the marketing industry towards a more fulfilling future. If you’re ready to embark on a transformative journey that will deepen your self-awareness and elevate your leadership potential, we encourage you to seek a nomination before November 22 in order to apply to The Marketing Academy’s 2025 Scholarship.
