“You got this”: 7 tips to find your spark as a leader

75% of female executives have experienced feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy, also known as impostor syndrome, at some point in their careers. This is despite the fact that women have proven to show up as effective leaders who cultivate strong connections, lead with curiosity, and score significantly higher than men across multiple leadership dimensions, from relating and self-awareness to authenticity and achieving. 

Once women step into their leading energy, their skills and contributions can make a huge difference. But first, they must decide to take the leap — and it all begins with harnessing one’s confident sense of self.

In our interview with Polina Andersson, ‌VP Financing & Treasury at Enery, and a member of the leaders circle, we have uncovered seven actionable tips to find the spark within you and hone it day by day to become the leader you know you can be.

1. leadership is a continuous journey of becoming

When asked about a key turning point that launched her leadership journey, Polina responds, “My experience taught me that leadership is a continuous journey of BECOMING. It could have started when I was a little girl and chose to lead my synchronized swimming team to the win in a national competition or the moment my daughter was born and made me a mom,” she ponders. 

“What I can tell for sure is that one's leadership journey does not start when you officially get a C-level title; it starts way earlier without us realising it.” 

Stressing that the only constant in life is change, Polina says that life will constantly challenge you — and your journey toward leadership lies in overcoming each obstacle as it comes. Nurturing this mindset can help you become more flexible and resilient.

2. the best decisions are rooted in your gut

While it is helpful to consult our trusted advisors for advice (“mom, of course,” Polina says), the decision you make and its respective consequences are ultimately on you. This is why confident decision-making is a vital part of any leader’s toolbox. How do you go about it, though? 

According to Polina, the best decisions are in sync with your gut instincts. “I feel that with experience, you trust yourself more, and hence, your gut becomes a more reliable decision-maker.”

She drives this point home when she says, “I once received and consequently rejected an offer from a tier-1 investment bank. I dreamt of receiving that offer for years, but when I got it, I felt in my gut that it was not right.”

“Now, years have passed, and I realize how powerful our unconscious is in guiding us to the right direction. Spoiler alert: I am very satisfied with the decision I have made back in the day.”

3. keep a track record of your achievements

When you feel like giving up, it’s easy to just throw your hands up in the air and leave. Of course, strong leaders do the exact opposite — they pull through. 

Polina shares a simple trick that’s helped her overcome feelings of self-doubt and keep going: “My strongest recommendation is to keep a track record of your small and big achievements.”

“Over time, you will collect many, and acknowledgment that you managed to pull through will give you power when you feel you cannot anymore.”

Her advice is to create a simple note named “You got this” on your phone summarizing all your achievements. That’ll do the job.

4. inspiring role models make a world of difference

“There are different approaches to leadership,” Polina explains. “One can learn leadership from their parents who are spectacularly managing the household (especially moms), friends who ‘manage’ to remain connected for years thanks to their organizational skills, or, as a more common choice, senior leaders at work.”

“Two people have significantly impacted my journey to date, and I am very grateful for both. Together, they showed me a combination of powerful and thought-provoking male leadership and brilliantly intelligent and elegant female leadership. This worked wonders and supported me in defining my early-year leadership formula.”

Based on her experience, a good tip is to be very proactive about reaching out to relatable leaders and asking for radically honest advice. Do not hesitate, in the end we are all no matter the title are just humans.

5. motivation is a muscle – train it

Motivation is not simply a feeling. It’s a skill that can be trained and improved over time, and Polina has shared five actionable steps to make it so. 

Firstly, aim to surround yourself with people who are better and stronger than you. If your social circle inspires you to keep going, motivation will soon become part of who you are, and you will always find a new spark “no matter how hard you crash.”

Here are specific examples of how Polina keeps herself motivated and inspired:

1. Physical exercise: Boring advice but always works (try to diversify it – my latest explorations are skipping rope & contemporary dance).

2. Cooking the best meals with my sous-chef, aka my 2-year-old daughter: this is an example of the change of activity where my mind is released of the daily worries  

3. Know yourself: Another tip for the note on your phone is “recharging resources”, which is a list of things that bring you genuine joy (examples from mine: delicious sushi order, contrast shower, dancing with my daughter, family call). When times are tough, you can open this list and start going one by one until you feel better.

4. Feed your soul with good literature, theatre, opera, museums, art exhibitions, inspiring movies, and concerts: these rejuvenate you and your vision of the world.

   
   
   
   

6. self-development is an asset worthy of investment

If Polina went back in time, she would tell her younger self that the leadership journey is a tough ride. All you can do is accept and rock it. 

And by rocking it, she means actively investing in one’s self-development so that you better yourself day by day. As she says, “20-30% of your monthly budget must go toward your self-development,” be it education, training, or expanding your network. 

Track your progress and always aim to be wiser tomorrow.

7. build a self-exploration architectural plan

Building a self-exploration plan for yourself offers a structured approach to self-improvement, motivating you to keep getting to know who you are both as a person and a leader.

Why? Because “exploring who you are takes time and effort, and one needs to be brave to, on the one hand, release oneself from the blockages (e.g., low self-esteem, exaggerated self-doubt, and judgment) and, on the other hand, acknowledge and embrace one's strengths and unique approach to leadership.”

finding your spark

Be it learning to listen to your gut instincts, surrounding yourself with inspiring role models and friends, or training your motivation muscle, finding your spark is a continuous process — one that helps you step into your leadership energy with confidence and trust. 

As Polina highlights, “You need to learn to rely on yourself and trust the power you carry within.”

Want to connect with leaders like Polina and be part of an exclusive space for impact-driven decision-makers? Learn more about the leaders circle here.

about Polina

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Polina moved independently to Finland at 14 to complete her high school and university education. Through Erasmus, she completed a double business degree between Finland and Austria. Thereafter, she joined UniCredit and worked in investment banking across Europe (Austria, Germany, Italy, the UK) for about 8 years. 

After having a beautiful baby girl and spending one year on maternity, she transitioned to the VP Finance & Treasury role in a renewable energy scale-up. She’s passionate about inspiring young female leaders by sharing her story of growth, mistakes, and career strategy.