What distinguishes successful leaders from those who struggle? Is it experience, education, or perhaps pure talent? Not really. It's the way they think about it.

Jim Collins, the author of Good to Great, describes it this way:

”Great vision without great people is irrelevant.”

This means that success is not about having all the answers yourself – but about how you create a culture where the right people have the right conditions to succeed. And that journey begins with you.

So, how do you think like a successful leader?

When your biggest challenge is yourself

All leaders, regardless of level, carry a critical inner voice – a voice that whispers doubt, self-criticism, and fears.

In Highly Effective Coaching Robert F. Hicks describes how this inner voice is often shaped by our experiences, upbringing, and past failures. It can manifest in the form of thoughts such as:

❌ "I am not good enough."
❌ "What if I fail?"
❌ "What will others think of me?"

This voice is fundamentally a survival mechanism. It wants to protect us from making mistakes or exposing ourselves to risks. The problem is that it does not differentiate between real threats and opportunities for growth.

When you face a new challenge, a difficult conversation, or an important decision, the inner critic often tries to hold you back. It wants you to stay in the comfortable – even if it means you don't grow.

But here is the crucial insight: You don't need to silence the voice – you need to learn to manage it.

Three ways to take control of your inner critic

1. See it for what it is
   The next time your inner voice questions you, pause and ask: Is this really true, or is it just an old thought that keeps repeating? Often, self-criticism is more feeling than fact.
2. Change perspective
   If a colleague were facing the same challenge and said exactly what you are thinking – what would you say to them? Would you be as harsh? Probably not. So why be that way towards yourself?
3. Add a word
   Instead of thinking "I can't do this", say "I can't do this yet." Small adjustments in how you talk to yourself can change how you see yourself.

The best leaders make decisions that matter – even five years from now

Marshall Goldsmith, one of the world's leading leadership coaches and author of What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, points out that what got you here may not be what will take you forward.

In other words: The decisions you made yesterday may need to be upgraded to meet tomorrow's challenges.

A simple question that changes the way you prioritize:

"Will this matter in five years?"

Successful leaders think long-term. They focus their energy on what actually makes a difference – even if it doesn't always yield immediate results.

Think like a forward-thinking leader

In his book The Infinite Game Simon Sinek describes the difference between playing to win today and playing to create something sustainable.

The average leader focuses on the next quarter.
The successful leader focuses on the next decade.

So the question is – do you lead for the present, or for the future?

Thought-provoking: Do you think like a successful leader?

✅ Do you see your inner critic as an obstacle – or as a signal for growth?
✅ Do you prioritize what really makes a difference – or do you get stuck in the urgent?
✅ Do you lead for the future – or just for today?

Successful leaders think differently – do you?

Do you want to develop your way of thinking and leading? Let's take the first step together by scheduling an initial conversation at no extra cost here. 🚀