The promotion opens. You have led projects, solved difficult problems and earned the trust of colleagues. Yet before you apply, you begin listing every qualification you lack. Someone else raises a hand, and you tell yourself you will be ready next time.
Self-doubt often looks like careful judgment. Sometimes it is: a new role may require skills you need to develop. But when the standard becomes “I must be certain I can do every part of this job before I pursue it,” caution can quietly become a