How to turn your inner critic into a powerful force for growth

"An anxious achiever is someone who channels anxiety into ambition, work ethic, productivity, and leadership. Along the way, they've learned that performance equals value. Many people tell me, "When I achieved, I was loved. I learned that's what I should do-and the fear of losing keeps me moving forward." Others say, "I grew up poor, with a single mom who struggled and a dad who didn't pay the bills. I'll never be that vulnerable again." For them, the anxiety of scarcity drives their determination."

"Anxiety is really a misunderstood emotion. We have a lot of social stigma against what anxiety represents in our culture, especially in leadership. And therefore we pretend we don't have it, which is crazy because everyone experiences anxiety. We need to have anxiety-it's what has kept us alive as a species. It's our body's way of preparing us for action. So, we shouldn't want to rid ourselves of our anxiety, but we may need healthier ways to manage it."

An anxious achiever channels anxiety into ambition, work ethic, productivity, and leadership, often equating performance with personal value. Experiences like being rewarded for achievement or growing up with scarcity drive relentless determination. Anxiety functions as a biological preparation for action and has evolutionary value rather than being purely pathological. Social stigma around anxiety, especially in leadership, leads people to hide it instead of managing it. Healthier management involves setting boundaries without sacrificing motivation and learning to work with the inner critic rather than opposing it. Reframing anxiety and adopting practical strategies can transform it into a source of focus and sustainable leadership.

Read at Fast Company