While I’d like to think I am secure in who I am, confident in what I can do, and convinced of where I’m supposed to be in life, I must admit I sometimes let barriers stand in the way of my leadership abilities.

Jenni Catron, in her book, Clout: Discover and Unleash Your God-Given Influence, identifies seven “Clout Killers” – obstacles that interfere with our ability to lead with confidence, passion and purpose.

Do you struggle with any of these obstacles?

1. Fear – the fear that “I am not enough.”
2. Comparison – the fear that “I don’t measure up.”
3. Jealousy – the fear of losing to someone else.
4. Scarcity – the fear that “There may not be enough.”
5. Insecurity – the fear that “I am not good enough.”
6. Pride – the belief that “I am more important.”
7. Control – the need for power (when I try to manufacture the influence I don’t have).

We can overcome these barriers by working to understand who we are as individuals and by embracing the fact that who we are trumps what we do in every aspect of our lives.

Catron recommends that we, “…trade fear for truth, jealousy for encouragement and affirmation, scarcity for generosity, insecurity for love, pride for humility, comparison for focus, and, control for trust and faith.”

When we are willing to examine who we are, and understand who we were created to be, we are well on our way to unlocking our leadership potential!