I think we aren’t comfortable with boasting. It is fashionable in our circles to say “I have no idea what I’m doing. I’m making this up as I go along.”

I was very guilty of this thinking and I have come to the conclusion it is actually dangerous. It is dangerous because we telegraph to others to doubt us. If I don’t know what I am doing, why should you follow me? Why would anyone trust your advice or direction?

I think we always have things to learn and we can always be better. Let’s just start with that baseline. Now here is how I think about myself in terms of leadership.

I am very good at what I do. I am incredibly competent. I work every day to do the right things and get better. I am good leader, and the way I know this is, I still have a job. I think I’ve worked hard to earn this respect and will not take that for granted.

Over 20 years in this industry I’ve learned some things. I can see patterns in products, people and organizations and I am good at pointing those things out suggesting paths forward and generally creating the conditions for people to be their best.

All Design Leaders need to recognize that they are better than they think. I don’t want people to have false egos but I think we can be honest about our accomplishments while recognizing our weaknesses.