“You’re not ready for the role”

by | Aug 25, 2026 | Confidence coaching, Monday Motivation, Newsletter | 0 comments

You're not ready for the role

Welcome to your Confidence Catalyst newsletter, helping you speak up, step up and stand out.

Has someone said this to you before?

Perhaps you’ve said it to someone else.

But what does it really mean? And what do we make it mean – particularly when we’re already feeling rejected, vulnerable or frustrated?

Do you lack the capability?

Were you not visible enough?

Did someone make an assumption about your potential?

Or was it simply feedback that was never explained properly?

I’ll come back to that statement shortly. But if you’re new to my newsletter, let me first tell you a little about me – and why this question matters so much to the work I do today.

Seven years ago, I walked away from a successful career as a Banking Director.

From the outside, everything looked as though it was going well. I had the title, the responsibility and the career I had worked so hard to build.

But inside, something felt different.

I didn’t know who I was anymore. I didn’t like how I felt, so I suppressed a lot of my emotions and ploughed through.

I knew what I didn’t want anymore, but I couldn’t answer one simple question:

What do I want?

Alongside my career, I had started training as a health coach. Through that process, I realised that before I could change anything externally, I had to start working on myself.

As I reconnected with who I was, recognised my strengths, became intentional about my next steps and learned to navigate the environments I worked in, my clarity about my future, and my confidence to create it -naturally grew.

That journey changed not only my career, but also the way I coach today.

Because I’ve come to believe that career success isn’t built on confidence alone.

It’s built on four interconnected pillars.

The Elevate Career Success Framework™

Inner Work

Developing the confidence, mindset and self-awareness to lead authentically, recognise your potential and become grounded in self-trust.

Natural Strengths

Understanding what makes you unique and using your natural talents and strengths to create your greatest impact.

Career Strategy

Being intentional about your visibility, positioning, relationships and career decisions, and creating the strategic visibility and connections that support progression.

Political Intelligence

Understanding how organisations really work, where influence sits and how to navigate systems with confidence and integrity.

Most career advice focuses on just one of these.

I believe you need all four.

Because confidence without strategy can lead to frustration.

Strategy without confidence can lead to hesitation.

Strengths without visibility can go unnoticed.

And without political intelligence, even the most talented people can find themselves sidelined.

So, let’s return to that statement

“You’re not ready for the role.”

It could be true.

It could also be vague, poorly delivered or lazy feedback.

Either way, the important thing is not to immediately turn it into a judgement about your worth or your future.

The important thing is to understand the gap between where you are and where you want to be.

That means looking at the situation through all four lenses.

Inner Work

Can you separate the feedback from your identity?

“You’re not ready yet” is not the same as “you are not capable.”

This is an opportunity for deep self-awareness: to notice the story you are telling yourself, identify where you may need to grow and remain open to the possibility that your current position is not your final destination.

Natural Strengths

Where are you already effective?

When you understand and leverage your natural talents and strengths, you can create impact in a way that feels more authentic, and often more sustainable.

As Gallup puts it, “people have the greatest opportunity to develop when they focus on their strengths”.

Your next step may not be about fixing everything. It may be about understanding where you are already strong and learning how to use those strengths more deliberately.

Career Strategy

What, specifically, is missing from the way others see you?

Perhaps you have the capability, but you are not yet being seen operating at the next level.

If so, ask yourself:

  • Where do I need greater visibility?
  • Who needs to understand my contribution?
  • Which relationships could support my progression?
  • What evidence do I have that I am already working beyond my current role?

It may be time to build more strategic visibility and develop relationships with people who can advocate for you.

Women are often described as being over-mentored and under-sponsored. Mentors can offer advice; sponsors use their influence to create opportunities and advocate for your progression.

Political Intelligence

What do you need to understand about the system you are operating in?

Who makes decisions?

Where does influence really sit?

What is valued, rewarded or overlooked?

And what is the best next step within this particular environment?

Career progression does not happen in a vacuum. Understanding the system is not about becoming inauthentic or compromising your values. It is about making informed choices rather than relying on effort alone.

If you only look at one of these lenses, there is a good chance you could spend time, effort and money on the wrong strategy, and conclude that progression is not possible for you.

Often, the issue is not a lack of confidence.

It is a lack of clarity about what needs to change, where the gap really is and which lever to pull first.

That’s why I love what I do.

Today, I have the privilege of helping ambitious women build careers that are aligned with who they are, not who they think they should be.

Outside of work, you’ll usually find me walking with our two dogs, watching films, reading books or making the most of our new life in Cornwall.

Moving here reminded me that success isn’t just about what you achieve. It’s also about creating a life that feels right.

If you’re new to my community, welcome.

Whether you’re here to build your confidence, increase your visibility, navigate organisational politics or take the next step in your career, I hope you’ll find practical ideas, honest conversations and the occasional nudge to think differently.

I’m glad you’re here.

A question for you

What is the one career challenge you’d most like to solve in the next 90 days?

Hit reply and tell me. I read every response, and your answers often shape future issues.

Have a great week.

Kirsteen

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Kirsteen, has been truly inspirational as both a coach and mentor. Kirsteen’s guidance has been instrumental in transforming my self-belief and confidence. Through our sessions, I have gained a better understanding of my strengths and the importance of prioritising myself.

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