leadership, Personal Side, personal-development, Training and Development

The Monster We Bring to Work

June 19, 2026

Some of the hardest conversations you have at work are the ones no one else hears. The ones where you wonder:

“Am I actually ready?”
“What if I fail?”
“Who am I to think I can do this?”

That voice can show up before a presentation, a career change, a difficult conversation, or a new opportunity. It can sound like it’s protecting you, but sometimes it’s just keeping you stuck.

A few things that help:

1. Notice the thought before accepting it

There is a difference between:

“I can’t do this.”

and

“I’m worried I can’t do this.”

2. Ask yourself if the story is accurate

Fear is often convincing. It will remind you of every mistake and conveniently forget everything you’ve handled successfully.

Try asking:

What evidence do I have?
Have I faced something like this before?
What would I tell someone else in my situation?

3. Take action before you feel completely confident

Most people don’t wake up one day feeling fearless. Confidence usually comes after taking the step.

4. Pay attention to the way you talk to yourself

The way you speak to yourself matters. You can be honest about challenges without constantly tearing yourself down. The goal is to stop letting doubt make every decision. That voice in your head may always be there. The question is whether it gets to lead.

We all have an internal voice that can make us question ourselves before anyone else ever gets the chance. “Talking to the Monster” is about recognizing that voice, challenging it, and taking back the confidence that fear tries to take away. *Ignore the cheesy thumbs up please. (Says my inner monster voice.)