When people fail in business, sometimes it’s not because of a factor that is external to them or their situation. It’s because they are getting in their own way. Certain mindsets or personal actions are making it tough for them to reach goals and achieve dreams. Because of these self-sustained, self-defeating patterns, lasting results are just really hard to achieve. When that happens to highly capable leaders, it often leaves them scratching their heads, wondering what’s going on. If you, too, are confused about why success isn’t happening for you, it could be something you—and not others—are doing. Discipline yourself to become more aware of whether you are the root of a problem. Once you understand how you may be driving your own defeat, you can start taking corrective action to change your future and finally control your odds for success.

Is it possible that the biggest “obstacle” to your growth and development is the fact that you are getting in your own way? Here are some pointers you might want to consider:

Face your personal barriers. Whether you’re struggling with low self-confidence, poor follow-through, defensiveness, or any number of other personal barriers to your success, identify what these are and face them. Consider getting 360-degree feedback, talking to a confidant, or using other methods to determine how you might be getting in your own way. Make a commitment to get to the heart of the matter, exploring how you, your mindset, and your behaviors are contributing to failures on the work-front. If you don’t, any avoidance could potentially derail your career, which is the last thing you want to happen. Facing your personal barriers may require extreme courage, but the efforts can be monumental in terms of transformation.

Acknowledge that it’s up to you to change. Real, impactful change requires not just facing but “owning” your issues. This means reconciling with the fact that your thoughts and behaviors belong only to you, and that it’s only your job—and no one else’s—to do something about them. Likewise, if you come to face some brutal truth around how you have been your own worst enemy, then you must develop the solution to the issue. This, too, can be tough stuff, and a lot of leaders fail at changing something about themselves because they don’t find or execute against the right solution. If you know you need to address your barriers, commit to finding and implementing the right solution—it’s critical for changing patterns for good and sustaining positive results.

Realize the Power of YOU. There are certain things in life that you can’t do anything about. But facing your personal barriers and making internal changes are within your realm of control. These are things that you can consistently manage for the better and, when you do, you’ll have the ability to take your leadership to the next level. You just have to make the decision that you’re willing to do what it takes. Get out of your own way—and once you do, you’ll start to realize the true power of YOU.

What tools or tactics do you think would help leaders to effectively tackle their personal barriers to growth?