Navigating imposter syndrome
Imposter syndrome—that nagging feeling that you're not qualified or capable enough despite evidence of success, is a hurdle that many of us encounter throughout our careers. I coach people through all levels of organisations and something you might not know is that imposter syndrome doesn’t disappear as you climb the career ladder. It’s a shared experience that spans across different titles, roles and seniority levels. When clients come to me to navigate imposter syndrome, they often see it as a problem that needs to be solved. A “syndrome” they need to get rid of.
But consider this - what if imposter syndrome is not a warning sign, but an indication that you're stepping out of your comfort zone? That your about to go through a significant period of growth and learning? That you’re learning to trust yourself in a way that perhaps you haven’t before? Instead of viewing your imposter syndrome as a problem that needs to be fixed, see it as a sign that you're on the brink of something new and transformative.
What we resist persists. The more we try to fight against or even deny the emotions that come with imposter syndrome, the more prevalent our emotions become. Instead of fighting against our feelings or even worse, letting our imposter syndrome hold us back from taking action, focus on changing your relationship with imposter syndrome.
How do you do this?
Acknowledge your emotions. Say to yourself…“I see you and I feel you - imposter syndrome. I know you’re here to protect me from failure”.
Focus on what you can control. If you feel unprepared or unequipped to take this on - practice, ask questions, get feedback, get support.
Consciously choose to embrace discomfort and keep going.
Ultimately imposter syndrome is not a final verdict on your abilities—it's a byproduct of your progress. By reframing your outlook on imposter syndrome and embracing discomfort, you create the conditions for your personal or professional growth.
I also want to acknowledge that changing your relationship with something like imposter syndrome doesn’t just happen overnight. It happens gradually and it requires us to confront beliefs that have been engrained into us for most of our lives. Beliefs like:
I need to be perfect.
Failure is not an option.
I should be farther along.
If you’re ready to play bigger and take steps outside of your comfort zone, don’t hesitate to reach out to learn more about how I can help. Book a discovery call here.
