We’ve all been there—caught in that endless loop of overthinking, replaying every mistake in our heads, beating ourselves up for not getting it right the first time. It’s exhausting. And honestly? It’s a waste of energy. But here’s the thing: evaluating yourself isn’t the problem. It’s how you’re doing it. Judgment gets in the way of growth, and that’s what we’re tackling in this episode of Brazen Leaders – The Human Edge.
In this blog, we’ll dive deeper into the themes of the episode, exploring how you can shift from self-criticism to self-evaluation that actually helps you grow.
Why Judging Yourself is Holding You Back
When you’re in the habit of judging yourself harshly, you’re essentially cutting yourself off from progress. Judgment says, “You’re not good enough,” and then it stops there. There’s no room for learning or improvement because you’re stuck in a negative loop. It’s like trying to build a house on quicksand—no matter how hard you work, it keeps sinking.
But here’s a game-changing idea: what if instead of judging yourself, you simply evaluated? This shift in mindset takes you out of the victim role and into a place of empowerment. When you evaluate, you’re looking at what happened without the emotional weight. You’re focused on what you can do better next time, not on how badly you messed up.
The Power of Evaluation: How to Shift Your Mindset
Evaluating without judgment is a practice, and it takes some work to get there. I’ve seen it with my clients, and I’ve experienced it myself. The moment you stop attacking yourself for not being perfect, you open up a whole new world of possibilities.
Here’s how you can start:
- Get Curious, Not Critical: The next time something doesn’t go as planned, ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” instead of, “Why do I always mess up?” It’s a small change, but it’s powerful. Curiosity leads to growth, while criticism keeps you stuck.
- Separate Feelings from Facts: Just because you feel like a failure doesn’t mean you are one. Look at the situation objectively—what actually happened? What can you improve? What did you do well? This gives you a balanced view and stops your emotions from running the show.
- Own Your Growth: Feedback is great, but at the end of the day, you’re the one who decides what to take on board and what to let go. Trust your judgment and take control of your development.
How Being Kinder to Yourself Makes You a Better Leader
We tend to think that being hard on ourselves is what pushes us to succeed. But the truth is, the most effective leaders aren’t the ones who tear themselves down—they’re the ones who know how to reflect, learn, and move forward without dragging themselves through the mud.
When you treat yourself with kindness and respect, you build resilience. You’re able to bounce back faster from setbacks, because you’re not wasting time in self-pity. You become a more confident leader because you’re constantly learning and improving, not stuck in a cycle of self-judgment.
Flipping Failure: Turning Setbacks into Strengths
Here’s a thought: failure isn’t the enemy. It’s actually one of your biggest opportunities for growth. Every time something doesn’t go as planned, you’re being handed a chance to learn something valuable. The key is not to let that moment define you, but to use it as fuel to keep going.
I’ve seen this work wonders for my clients. Once they stop fearing failure and start seeing it as feedback, they unlock their potential in ways they never imagined.
Takeaways from This Episode
- Judgment blocks growth, but evaluation fuels it. Learn to make the shift from criticizing yourself to understanding what you can learn from each experience.
- Be curious, not critical. The more you focus on learning rather than tearing yourself down, the more you’ll grow as a leader.
- Turn failure into fuel. Every setback is an opportunity to get better—if you let it be.
Ready to Step Into Leadership Without Judgment?
If you’re tired of holding yourself back with self-criticism, I’m here to help. Slide into my DMs, and let’s talk about how you can join the Brazen Leaders Incubator or work with me one-on-one. Together, we’ll create a plan that helps you grow into the leader you’re meant to be—without the judgment.
Join the Community: Want more support? Join the Brazen Leaders Incubator, where ambitious women grow into bold, unstoppable leaders. Stay bold, stay brazen, and let’s make things happen.
