On the Uncommon Practice of Recognizing Your Own Awesomeness

In most organizations, we reach a milestone, achieve an outcome, and immediately shift our focus to the next priority.

This is how modern business operates: constant forward motion—another deadline, another deliverable, another initiative to take on.

I’ve spent nearly three decades in this world, taking on various leadership roles, and I’ve watched incredibly capable people navigate this relentless pace with skill and resilience. And yet, in my work with clients, mentees, and colleagues, I see how rarely we pause to recognize just how skilled and capable we actually are.

Right now, you’re likely juggling dozens of initiatives, each with different stakeholders, competing expectations, and tight timelines. You’re moving constantly between strategic planning and operational firefighting, making sound decisions with imperfect information, and managing complex relationships across levels.

This is sophisticated, high-level work. And yet we almost never stop to recognize it as such.

Here's where this becomes more than just an interesting observation about corporate life—it becomes critical to your wellbeing and performance.

When we're constantly moving from one priority to the next without acknowledging what we've accomplished, when we can't keep up with everything (and let's be honest, none of us can be perfect at everything), something happens. We start losing confidence. We begin doubting ourselves. Those internal voices get louder: "I'm falling behind. What if I lose my job? What if I don't get that promotion?"

This is when our nervous system shifts into fight-or-flight mode. In that state, we operate more reactively and less intentionally. We lose access to our best thinking and to the clarity we need to lead well. The very pressure that fuels our self-doubt also makes it harder to lead with intention and impact.

Yes, recognition from our leaders matters. Feedback and acknowledgment from others are important. But here’s what we often overlook: we also need to be able to recognize ourselves.

Not from a place of ego, but from genuine self-appreciation — what I’d even call self-compassion. When we take time to acknowledge our own capability, we give ourselves the boost of confidence needed to keep moving forward.

Recognizing ourselves matters in two ways: how we feel, and how we show up as leaders.

So as we continue into this new year, here’s my invitation: take a moment to see what you’re managing — the decisions, the tradeoffs, the people, the pressure. This is not ordinary work. It requires judgment, emotional intelligence, and resilience.

At the end of each week, write down three things you handled well — not perfectly, but competently. Keep them somewhere you can return to when your confidence wavers.

Let it remind you of something we’re quick to forget: you are doing meaningful, demanding work — and you are doing it well.

A little self-appreciation isn’t self-indulgent. It’s self-preservation. And in a world that rarely pauses, recognizing your own awesomeness may be one of the most practical leadership habits you can build.

Deborah Newman brings nearly three decades of executive leadership experience to her work as an executive advisor, helping leaders navigate the human side of organizational change.