Doubt is one of the most silent and persistent forces in leadership — and it takes more principals out of the game than burnout, conflict, or workload ever will.

In this first episode of our 3-part leadership series, we break down the truth about doubt:

what it is, why it shows up, and how it quietly erodes confidence, clarity, and culture inside schools.

Drawing from insights from my mentor Paul Martinelli and 20+ years of leading and coaching school administrators, this episode will help you understand doubt as more than an emotion—it’s a signal, a teacher, and sometimes a trap.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why even highly successful leaders wrestle with doubt

The 5 types of doubt that show up in school leadership

How doubt creates the emotional space where assumptions grow

Why doubt is not a weakness—but silence around it is

How doubt turns into hesitation, overthinking, and poor decision-making

The mindset shift every leader needs to break the doubt cycle

The truth vs. fact distinction that can transform your confidence

How to move into 2026 with clarity, purpose, and conviction

Doubt never disappears—but how you interpret it determines whether it becomes a catalyst for growth or a weapon against your potential.

This episode sets the foundation for Lesson 2 on Assumptive Leadership—the behavior that destroys trust faster than anything else in schools.