7 Self-Development Challenges & How to Overcome Them

Credit: Style My Soul, www.stylemysoul.com | Self Development Lessons

Style My Soul Explores … Self Development

Today we have leaders and contributors sharing personal experiences with self-development challenges. From overcoming imposter syndrome to balancing leadership and collaboration, these insights provide a unique perspective on personal growth and overcoming obstacles.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in HR
​My significant challenge in my personal development was when I started in HR from a background in TV. I didn’t have a formal HR qualification. At times, many businesses required that formal qualification. It has hindered me in developing as quickly as I might have done, and at times, it has given me a feeling of being an imposter in my own industry. Now, I have stopped worrying about it, and at the end of the day, my experience has been built by great managers who have mentored me and believed in my potential. Something that I have taken on in setting up Let’s Talk Talent, a talent management consultancy, is focused on unlocking the potential of people. My career has been built on a balance between experience and exposure, and I think that is what we need to encourage in the workplaces today and in the future. Let’s stop recruiting based on skills and focus on attitude and potential. Often, all it needs is someone to believe in you. - Jo Taylor, Managing Director, Let’s Talk Talent

Mastering Time Management as a Director
Time management was a big self-development obstacle I had to overcome. Effective time management was essential to juggling my responsibilities as a managing director and an attorney. I overcame this by strictly prioritizing my work, identifying what was high on my list, and establishing precise objectives and due dates for each role. By using time-blocking, I was able to schedule periods of concentrated work and meetings while reducing outside distractions. I also discovered how crucial it is to concentrate on higher-level duties, trust competent team members with assignments, and delegate. Constant education was essential. I put a lot of effort into learning time management strategies like the Eisenhower Matrix and the Pomodoro Technique, which greatly increased my output. All things considered, these tactics, when paired with self-control, enabled me to overcome my difficulty managing my time and discover a more harmonious way to balance my duties as a managing director and an attorney. - John Truong, Managing Director and Attorney, Alliance Compensation & Litigation Lawyers

​Acquiring New Skills for Job Security
When I was working as an administrative assistant, we experienced a change in ownership. The new management team members each had their own views on what each employee’s future role and responsibilities should be. They reviewed my job description and determined that my position needed to be updated to be valuable. To earn my license to sell insurance in the office and take a job on the floor instead of being laid off, the new owners allowed me to take some evening classes. Despite the anxiety of impending job loss, I pursued the certification and passed it to maintain employment.
- Axel Hernborg, Founder and CEO, Tripplo

Transforming Fear of Failure into Growth
When we first started our journey into the gaming and esports industry, a deep-seated fear of failure paralyzed me. What if we didn’t meet gamers’ expectations? Early on, we launched a feature that wasn’t received well. Instead of letting the setback define us, we took it as an opportunity to learn. I personally engaged with our user community, gathered feedback, and, with our team, refined our offerings. Embracing failure, not as a defeat but as a stepping-stone, reshaped my perspective and fueled our growth. This personal evolution has been pivotal in navigating our business’s ups and downs.
- Artem Minaev, Co-Founder, PlayToday.co

​Tackling Procrastination with Accountability
A major self-development challenge I faced was procrastination. Finding the motivation to do something can be really hard, but I overcame this problem on my own. Taking the first step was a solution in itself. I started to set goals for myself, and I gave each of those goals a time limit. I set achievable goals that weren’t that difficult for me, and I gave myself limited time to do it. I held myself accountable for these goals by getting a friend to monitor my progress.
- Aqsa Tabassam, Team Lead Manager, Vidfol

Learning to Delegate for Company Growth
As the CEO of Ignited Results, I’ve encountered numerous challenges throughout my professional journey. A particularly memorable one was my reluctance to delegate responsibilities. The adage, “If you want it done right, do it yourself,” resonated deeply with me. However, with reflection and mentorship from seasoned industry leaders, I recognized the limitations of this mindset. Embracing the value of trust and empowering my team became paramount. This shift not only propelled our company’s growth but also marked a significant milestone in my personal development.
- Jon James, CEO, Ignited Results

​Balancing Leadership and Collaboration
Navigating through the leadership journey at Kualitee, a self-development challenge I encountered was managing the equilibrium between being a leader and a team collaborator. Initially, maintaining the balance where I could lead effectively while ensuring that the team felt valued and included in decision-making was intricate. The breakthrough came when I embraced “Empathetic Leadership.” I invested time in understanding the team’s perspectives, acknowledging their expertise, and incorporating their insights into strategic decisions. This enhanced the decision-making process and fostered a culture of mutual respect and collective ownership within the team, refining my leadership approach and fortifying team dynamics.
- Khurram Mir, Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Kualitee