In the Margins: Identifying and Mitigating Career-Limiting Beliefs

Imagine sitting at a meeting table, ready to contribute your ideas, when suddenly, a voice in the back of your mind whispers, “You’re not qualified enough to speak up.” You’ve done your research and been in the game for years, but somehow, you find yourself shrinking in the margins of your own career.

For many professionals, these whispers—what I’ll call “career-limiting beliefs”—aren’t just fleeting thoughts. They can profoundly affect how we show up in our professional lives, stalling growth, limiting opportunities, and casting long shadows over our potential. The good news? These beliefs, while powerful, are not immutable. They can be identified, challenged, and rewritten.

Let’s examine, in-depth, the career-limiting beliefs many of us harbor, why they exist, and, most importantly, how we can mitigate them.

What Are Career-Limiting Beliefs?

Career-limiting beliefs are the internal narratives we tell ourselves that hold us back from achieving our full potential. These beliefs often manifest as self-doubt, feelings of inadequacy, or fear of failure. They may sound like:

• "I’m not experienced enough to apply for that promotion."

• "I don’t have the leadership skills to manage a team."

• "If I speak up, I’ll sound stupid."

• "They’ll see right through me; I don’t deserve this position."

These beliefs can stem from past failures, societal expectations, or internalized messages from early experiences in education or the workplace. While anyone can experience career-limiting beliefs, they often disproportionately affect women, particularly in male-dominated fields, due to the interplay between gender biases and self-perception.

The Role of Self-Doubt in Women's Careers

Self-doubt doesn’t arise in a vacuum. For women in the workforce, there are many contributing factors. Studies have shown that women, particularly those in professional and leadership roles, experience impostor syndrome at higher rates than men. Impostor syndrome is the persistent feeling that you’re a fraud and that your success is due to luck rather than skill.

Societal expectations can play a massive role here. Women are often held to different standards in the workplace and at home, leading to a constant balancing act that can foster feelings of inadequacy. And when you add the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) gender biases that exist in many workplaces, it becomes even easier to internalize self-doubt.

It’s one thing to recognize that self-doubt exists, but how do we identify the specific career-limiting beliefs that might hold us back? Let’s examine this.

Self-sabotaging thoughts can be tricky to spot because they often masquerade as rational, practical thinking. However, the key is looking at patterns—particularly in moments where you feel stuck, hesitant, or disengaged at work. Here are a few red flags:

1. Perfectionism:

Do you constantly tell yourself that your work needs to be flawless before you can share it? Perfectionism is a common career-limiting belief that leads to procrastination and missed opportunities. You may delay projects or keep yourself from applying for new roles because you believe you’re not quite ready.

2. Over-Apologizing:

Do you start sentences with "I’m sorry, but..." in meetings or presentations? This is often a subtle way we minimize our own voice and contributions, signaling that we believe our ideas are less valuable than others’. And this is happening far more often than you might think. Pay attention the next time you’re at ViVE or HIMSS. Survey your female conversations and how frequently those conversations involve over-apologizing. I’ve done the legwork on this one, and it’s not good out there.

3. Fear of Rejection or Criticism:

Are you afraid of pitching new ideas or going for that promotion because you might be told no? The fear of rejection or failure can cause us to avoid taking risks, even when the potential reward far outweighs the risk.

4. Discounting Your Achievements:

Do you tend to chalk up your successes to external factors like luck or timing rather than acknowledging your own skills and hard work? This is a hallmark of impostor syndrome and can prevent you from advocating for yourself in professional settings.

By tuning into these thought patterns, you can uncover the career-limiting beliefs operating behind the scenes. But awareness is only the first step. Next, you’ll need strategies to actively mitigate these negative self-talk cycles.

Strategies for Mitigating Negative Self-Talk in Careers

Overcoming career-limiting beliefs requires a mindset shift. It’s about replacing those damaging thoughts with more empowering narratives and actively reframing how you approach challenges. Here are several strategies to help:

1. Reframe Negative Thoughts for Career Success**

When a negative thought arises, don’t accept it at face value. Challenge it. If you catch yourself thinking, “I'm not qualified for this role,” reframe the thought to, “I have valuable skills and experience that can contribute to this role.” Over time, this practice of reframing will help shift your mindset from one of doubt to one of confidence.

2. Develop Self-Advocacy Skills in Professional Settings

Many professionals hesitate to advocate for themselves in the workplace, whether it’s negotiating salaries, promotions, or taking credit for their work. It’s essential to learn the skill of self-advocacy. This doesn’t mean being boastful or arrogant; it’s about standing firm in your worth and ensuring your contributions are recognized.

One way to build this skill is through preparation and practice. Before you go into a meeting where you need to advocate for yourself—whether for a raise, a new role, or a key project—prepare by listing your accomplishments and the value you bring to the team. Practicing these conversations with a mentor or trusted colleague can help you feel more confident when the time comes.

3. Break Free from Self-Imposed Career Limitations

Self-imposed limitations often stem from fear—fear of failure, fear of judgment, fear of the unknown. One way to break free from these limitations is to take calculated risks. Stretching outside your comfort zone doesn’t mean making reckless decisions, but it does mean saying yes to opportunities that challenge you, even if they initially feel uncomfortable.

Start small: say yes to speaking at an industry event, volunteer to lead a new initiative, or apply for that role you’ve been eyeing even if you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications. Each time you take a risk and succeed, you chip away at the limiting beliefs holding you back.

4. Building Confidence in the Workplace

Confidence isn’t something you either have or don’t have; it’s something you build over time. Confidence is built through action—through repeatedly putting yourself in situations where you can grow, learn, and succeed.

One way to bolster confidence is to seek support. Whether through mentorship, leadership programs, or professional networks, having a support system can make all the difference. Surround yourself with people who believe in you, challenge you, and encourage you to aim higher.

5. Challenging Gender Bias and Self-Perception at Work

Gender biases—whether overt or implicit—affect how women perceive themselves in the workplace. You may be downplaying your capabilities because you’ve internalized societal messages about what women can and cannot do in leadership.

One powerful way to challenge these biases is through intentional self-perception management. Start by recognizing the specific ways in which bias has shaped your self-perception. Then, actively work to rewrite those narratives. If you’ve been told that women aren’t natural leaders, counter that by looking at examples of successful women leaders in your industry and beyond.

Impact of Impostor Syndrome on Professional Advancement

Impostor syndrome doesn’t just impact your day-to-day performance; it can have long-term implications for your career trajectory. Those who suffer from impostor syndrome are less likely to pursue leadership roles, negotiate for raises, or take on high-visibility projects. Over time, this leads to stagnation in your career development.

“I’ve been stunned at the degree to which highly accomplished women frequently struggle with feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, low self-confidence and confusion about how they, in fact, reached the high levels they’ve achieved.” - Kathy Caprino, Career, and Leadership Coach.

To combat impostor syndrome, it’s essential to celebrate your wins, no matter how small. Keep a running list of your accomplishments, and review them regularly. This serves as a reminder of your capabilities and helps reframe your self-perception over time.

Overcoming Fear and Uncertainty in Business Leadership

Fear and uncertainty are natural parts of the leadership journey. However, they don’t have to paralyze you. The key to overcoming these feelings is to develop a mindset of continuous learning.

Rather than viewing leadership as a static set of skills, approach it as an ongoing growth process. When faced with uncertainty, remind yourself that every challenge is an opportunity to learn something new. Seek feedback, stay curious, and embrace the discomfort of stepping into leadership roles.

Hears the thing . . .,

Career-limiting beliefs can feel like invisible shackles holding you back from stepping into your full potential. But the truth is, these beliefs are not fixed. By identifying self-sabotaging thoughts, reframing negative narratives, and taking proactive steps to build confidence, you can begin to rewrite your career story. I did it, and so can you.

Your success is not a question of whether you deserve it——it’s a matter of stepping out of the margins and owning the space you’ve already earned.