Unwavering

Introduction: The Power of One Question

Several years ago, my colleague Carolina and I were debating a career opportunity that would have evolved the work that I'd been doing to have a more global reach. It was an expanded role that would have undoubtedly propelled my career to new leadership heights and the type of professional advancement that I had visualized for quite some time. Yet instead of being fully excited, I sat there listing all of the reasons—or more accurately, all of the excuses—why it was not a sound strategic move for me at that time. I felt a heaviness that robbed me of my freedom to get excited and feel truly joyous about the opportunity.

As I relentlessly added to the list of negatives, Carolina asked me in a very direct and deliberate manner, “Nellie, who in your past has made you believe that you are not good enough?” Her stare was piercing and somewhat intimidating. Although I knew in my heart that her question came from a genuinely good place—she was a team member who reported to me and we'd known each other for quite some time at that point—my mind immediately went to, “What did she just have the audacity to ask me? Seriously, why would she ask me that?”

I paused for a moment, hoping that my body language adequately concealed my defensiveness. With conviction and a serious attitude, I replied, “Absolutely no one.” I was not willing to be exposed, and I wanted my reply to end the conversation. I redirected the conversation towards other topics we needed ...