Are you a work in progress? And is that OK?
We often expect ourselves to be polished, perfect, and fully competent always.
In truth, we’re all works in progress, constantly evolving, learning, and growing. Yet, for many professionals, particularly in health leadership roles, admitting gaps in knowledge or skill can feel like a weakness rather than a natural part of development.
One of the most powerful takeaways people gain from leadership training is the permission to be learners—embracing the idea that we don't need to know everything immediately and that development is a continuous process.
The Work in Progress Metaphor
Imagine you're building a house. At first, it’s just a foundation, bare and without any visible beauty. Slowly, you add walls, floors, and then the roof. It’s not until the house is nearly complete that the full picture begins to emerge. But even then, it may need repainting, repairs, and rethinking of its design.
Your personal and professional growth is like this house—it takes time, adjustments, and sometimes a complete rework. But at every stage, even when incomplete, it is still valid, still worthy, and still a significant part of the process.
Giving yourself permission to be a work in progress means recognising the foundation you're building on and acknowledging that growth is an essential part of becoming a more effective leader.
Leadership is not about knowing everything upfront; it's about being willing to grow, adapt, and lead with humility.
Why Is This Important?
In the fast-paced environments like healthcare, there's immense pressure to make decisions quickly, appear confident, and have all the answers. But in reality, no one has all the answers, and believing this will lead to a damaging cycle of self-doubt and burnout.
Refusing to acknowledge that you're a work in progress can lead to several negative consequences:
Imposter syndrome: When you feel you must always be perfect, you constantly question your competence, even when you’re excelling.
Stagnation: If you don’t allow yourself room to learn and grow, you remain stuck at your current level of ability, ultimately stifling your development this title better then the alternative and progress.
Perfection paralysis: You may hesitate to take on new challenges, fearing you won't meet your own impossible standards.
Burnout: The pressure to be perfect always is mentally and physically exhausting, leading to stress and overwhelm.
When you give yourself permission to be a work in progress, you free yourself to be open, curious, and resilient, ultimately becoming a stronger, more dynamic leader.
Key Principles to Embrace Your Work-in-Progress Journey
Progress, over Perfection
Perfection is often unattainable and chasing it can hold you back. Instead, focus on incremental progress. Ask yourself: what did I learn today? How did I grow from yesterday? This mindset helps you appreciate the small victories that come from learning and growing, rather than focusing on where you're not yet.
Adopt a Growth Mindset
Psychologist Carol Dweck popularised the concept of the growth mindset—the belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and effort. This contrasts with a fixed mindset, which assumes that talent and intelligence are static. Leaders with a growth mindset thrive on challenge and see failure not as a sign of inadequacy but as a launchpad for growth. In a healthcare setting, this approach can help you navigate complex situations, knowing that learning and improvement are always possible.
Normalise Not Knowing Everything
It's okay to say, "I don't know." Too often, leaders feel pressure to provide immediate answers or solutions. But great leaders acknowledge when they don’t have all the information and instead invite collaboration. When you're comfortable admitting gaps in your knowledge, it also encourages those around you to feel safe in doing the same, fostering a culture of continuous learning.
Prioritise Reflection and Self-Compassion
Reflect regularly on your journey, recognising the strides you've made and the lessons you've learned. Equally important is showing yourself compassion in moments of difficulty. Leaders often extend empathy to their teams but forget to apply the same grace to themselves. Embrace the idea that struggle and mistakes are part of learning and are not indicators of your ultimate capability.
Celebrate Growth in Your Team
As a leader, not only should you give yourself permission to be a work in progress, but you should also extend that same permission to your team. Encourage your staff to take risks, make mistakes, and view challenges as opportunities for learning. By creating an environment where everyone feels safe to learn and grow, you model the behaviour you want to see, nurturing a culture of development.
The Long-term Impact
When you adopt the mindset that you are a work in progress, it ripples throughout your leadership and team. You become more approachable, more adaptive, and more willing to tackle complex challenges without the fear of failure. Most importantly, it transforms the workplace from a space of rigid perfectionism to one of learning, flexibility, and innovation.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "Life is a journey, not a destination." Leadership, too, is an ongoing journey. Give yourself the space to evolve on that journey. You don't need to have it all figured out today, tomorrow, or even next year. What matters is that you're committed to the process—learning, growing, and leading with curiosity and compassion.
If you are interested in more momentum in self-leadership, join one of my self-leadership programs: Self-Leadership program or Thriving Professional Women.
The feedback from these programs is loud and clear.
Many thanks, the training was so amazing, and everyone absolutely loved it!
We had a truly positive experience with Michelle, where participants were not only connected but enthused throughout the day. The delivery and content of Michelle’s workshop left everyone energised to apply their learnings. We are so grateful to have shared the opportunity with her.
Please pass on our thanks to Michelle and to the wonderful crew behind her!
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Further insight
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