Feeling like an imposter in your industry?

This is an esteem issue, not an efficacy issue. You're providing results, but you don't feel "worthy" and you feel you'll be "found out" at some point. List your past successes and their causes. Inform yourself about your effectiveness and that it wasn't accidental or due to someone else. Stop listening to people who undermine you (e.g., passive-aggressives) and when someone tells you you've done well, ask WHY to determine exactly the causes of your success. Important note: If such interventions do not work, and coaching doesn't help you, you may well have a therapeutic need to help find out what it is in your past (such as a parent's condemnation or a sibling's huge success always cited) that has created your low esteem.

As a thought leadership coach to CEOs, I get asked this ALL the time! And my answer to them ..... is Thats one of the best things to feel LOL! Why? Because yr subconscious has just brought to yr attention what you wanna work on so u can go to the next level! So what we wanna do is to reflect on situations that trigger this imposter syndrome -Are there specific topics, audiences, or activities that make you feel like a fraud? By pinpointing these triggers, we can look into where these things are coming up, why we hold on to them, how this limiting belief or feeling is benefitting us n what we're learning fr it! And then we'll work w them to clear these beliefs cos these are usually triggers that hold us back fr being who we truly are!

Imposter syndrome? Get over it! If you know a few things on a subject, then you're already way ahead of your peers. However, there's a need to discriminate about the quality of learning you absorb. First, every week must be a learning week. I know it has been for me for over 30 years! But don't be one of those morons who thinks they are clever because they can trot out a load of platitudes that merely skim the surface of a subject. Get in deep. And in business, make sure you actually talk to people who DO whatever the subject is. If you just read the propaganda, that's all you'll ever know. But one or two conversations with people actually in the field will yield insights you'll never get from searching the internet and asking ChatGPT.

Having changed my career from being a teacher to a Copywriter and Personal Branding Expert I have felt this and knowing my trigger and navigating through it instead of avoiding it had helped me a lot. For example: Is it speaking in front of people? If yes, prepare like crazy: The more you know, the more confident you'll feel. Remember your wins: Keep a list of all the cool stuff you've done. Look at it when you're feeling down. Learn, learn, learn: Instead of thinking, "I should know this already," think "Cool, I get to learn something new!" Talk to others: You'd be surprised how many people feel the same way. Maybe you've changed careers or have an unusual background. That's not a bad thin, it's your superpower!

At the highest level, if this discomfort is not a common occurrence, then you have a problem. With a passion for pushing the boundaries and a desire for growth, natural leaders will encounter “imposter syndrome” frequently. If one isn’t experiencing this discomfort, you are not pushing any significant boundaries.

After 11 years teaching teens and working hotel front desks, I thought copywriting would be easy. Wrong! I've felt like an imposter and I have now learnt that, -Every job teaches valuable skills. Teaching helped me explain complex ideas. -Hospitality taught me about customer needs. -You don't need to know everything. Being willing to learn is what matters. Each task is a chance to grow, not a test. -This mindset makes work more enjoyable. Remember: You're not faking it, you're learning and growing. That's exactly what you should be doing! Embracing this mindset changed everything for me. It can for you too!

Imposter syndrome is letting someone else’s voice get in your head. You need to replace that voice with your own! I read a book per week on 5 subjects I am most passionate about and others see me as an expert. Most people don’t read a book per week let alone nonfiction books on exciting topics like problem solving and data analysis. Another important aspect of learning is to use what you’ve learned to pursue your passion. I know there are others out there who no more than me or have been doing it longer. But they’re not the ones who can help my customers. You need to realize you know more than most and have been doing it longer than most of your competitors. Practice saying this to yourself. Navy Seals do this, why wouldn’t you!

In a digital first environment, acceptance of fleeting feelings of being an imposter is often just that – fleeting. By focusing on continuous learning, leveraging varied experiences, and using this discomfort as catalyst for growth, one can use such opportunities as a lever to establish expertise in uncharted territory.

Peer support or working together ……supporting each other learning with each other We often hesitate but one has to involving others makes a team stronger towards common goal

Win is always a win not small or big it’s an accomplishment to be achieved When an individual or team achieves after a planning & execution it’s their win their celebrations

Success is often just a matter of taking one step at a time, one day at a time. We recognise imposter syndrome as a real emotion and should not brush it under the carpet. A sign of a natural leader is an acknowledgement of such feelings. Having a trusted circle of mentors or colleagues to air these feelings is helpful. A tracker of past successes helps remind oneself of mountains climbed, besides staying grateful. We need to celebrate our wins. Remember you were hired for these challenges, so embrace these opportunities to stay ahead.

Keep an updated document with bullet points or highlights of what you're working on and what you accomplished over the past year. Not only is it a great reference for you, it'll be a great reminder of what to bring up in job interviews or internal reviews!

I agree with Jessica Suerth who contributed with an excellent view on documenting your journey and small wins. You might think that documenting everything is unnecessary and overly organised , but you will definitely forget small details when you don’t document it. You will find it surprisingly helpful when you look back and see details that you have forgotten and are now grateful for having written it down otherwise.

Self-affirmations go a long way in making you adapt well to new platforms or new opportunities. Thinking of it as a new way of learning paves the path of growth and helps your mindset to perceive every opportunity constructively.

Everyone feels like an imposter at times. Instead of focusing on your lacks and what you are learning, focus on your expertise, your unique perspective and sharing the transformative thing you learned. A beginner's experience can remind an expert of something they long forgot. An expert's knowledge can help jumpstart a beginner's journey. You can learn from and teach something to everyone.

Nah, feeling like an imposter always happens to top-achieving individuals because they always seek the best versions of themselves! and know that it is only you who sees or feels this way! Others are impressed!

When I start having doubts about whether I’m qualified, I remind myself that one study showed that men apply for a job when they meet only 60% of the qualifications while women apply when they meet 100 %. Plus, when do you think about many leaders in power, it’s clear that the system often rewards mediocrity if it’s backed by power.

So once I've worked with them to clear these limiting beliefs from tbeir system, its time to reframe these beliefs into healthy ones so this is where i do what i call a "healing"session where we download healthy positive thoughts and beliefs into their systems eg that they are already enoughand capable. The effect is almost immediate and literally transforms their lives so we love doing such "healing" sessions lol!

Well pain and discomfort are usually signs of growth. So I remind my people that stepping out of one's comfort zone is necessary for personal and professional development. And besides.... I always believe that imposter syndrome is a positive indicator that we are pushing ourselves to fulfill our full potential and make a meaningful impact which was exactly what they signed up for with me in the first place so they are in good hands LOL!

Well, I believe “Innovation is the way You Think, rather How Differently You Can Do It” . Now, Imposter syndrome, even among seasoned professionals, can be a powerful and often paralysing experience. It’s the nagging voice that questions your achievements, abilities and place within your industry, no matter how qualified or successful you might be. Where Innovation and Influence are key, this internal struggle can be particularly acute. Let’s think the flip side: Embracing imposter syndrome can actually fuel your growth. It forces you to stay humble, continuously learn and push beyond your limits. The key is to recognise that feeling like you are challenging yourself and evolving. Use it as Catalyst for deeper self-awareness and ambition.

Focus on facts and outcomes. First- Facts: What skills and abilities do you have? What attitude do you have towards the work? Are you solutions-focused? Imposter syndrome is based in emotions like fear, so identifying facts help you see reality. Then - Outcomes: What outcomes are you trying to create? How can you create them? What outcomes have you created in the past and how did you do it? Outcomes keep you focused on the purpose of the role or job, giving you something tangible that you can make a plan for. Instead of getting intimidated and looking at what others can do, focus on the outcomes needed and what YOU can do to create them.