How can you beat impostor syndrome as a life coach?

I always take it back to childhood and do an inventory check for where the root of these thoughts may have originated. When we can remember how we were raised or the environments we may have been in, it unlocks pieces of us to further explain how we show up as adults. As imposter syndrome really is a self shaming mechanism of the inner critic. We need to know when these thoughts tend to show up, is it when you are in new uncharted territory? Then once we can start recognizing these patterns from being self aware… We can then acknowledge the feeling and NOT give it the power to drive the car, but rather put it in the back seat and let it watch us take charge of the situation.

I have combated this by living my mission - to inspire and guide people to become the most discipline versions of themselves so they can build consistency in their actions and achieve their desired results. So, I live that same mission. I consistently work on being the most discipline version of myself and I never expect a client to do anything I am not willing to do myself.

It's important to remember that we help our clients best when we show our own vulnerabilities and share what we learned as we struggled with our own blocks - imposter syndrome being one of the doozies ! The best coaches are the ones who have fallen, struggled, and found the lessons in those challenges. Imposter syndrome included.It's not about regurgitating what you learn in your coaching courses - but about showing up for your clients from a place of authenticity and real life experiences. In my experience - the best remedy to imposter syndrome is action. As a coach, the best action is being of service to your clients.

Most people experience imposter syndrome periodically and coaches are no exception. We are still human and that's what makes it so important to tune into how you're feeling and work through it in an emotionally intelligent and thoughtful way. It's absolutely a growth opportunity and will make you a better coach as you observe the process of overcoming imposter syndrome in yourself, with curiosity and self-compassion. It's also important to remember that what clients need most of all are a safe place to explore their goals and challenges and someone to hold space while they figure out what's best for them. Imposter syndrome can come from a place of thinking we have all the answers when in fact the client is the one with the answers.

Focus on what you intend to accomplish rather than worrying about what others will think about what you are doing or what you have produced.

Learning should be your default goal with any client or even situation. There's always at least one lesson to be learned, though it may not present itself until long after the event has occurred. Just by being aware of how much there is to learn, we can remain humble and even more importantly...intensely curious.

In my experience, joining a community of like-minded individuals such as fellow life coaches, mentors, or role models, can be immensely beneficial. Being part of such a community allows for the sharing of experiences, insights, and advice, which can help dispel the notion that we are alone in our struggles. By engaging with others who have faced similar challenges, we can gain perspective, encouragement, and validation that our feelings of inadequacy are not unique. Not to mention being a part of communities of like-minded people is FUN, and that is what life is about! Love, Joy and Grace Kristin

In my experience, there nothing more important than a Self Love practice. When you practice self love, or perhaps self compassion, or simply self friendliness, you re-wire your brain with pathways of acceptance. At its core, imposter syndrome is not accepting ourselves as we are. Believing that someone else is better than we are, and we are not good enough. When we begin to accept ourselves as we are, using a self love practice, imposter syndrome dissolves away.

Practicing self-compassion and gratitude are two of the most important ingredients to combat self-doubt and impostor syndrome. Self-compassion tells you that you are human and you make mistakes and that it is OK to learn from these experiences. Gratitude makes us happier, feel positive and its good for our mental health. It also makes us face adversity better. So using these two aspects as a coach will improve your outlook at things and yourself and help you project yourself with confidence embracing who you are without judgement but with compassion.

Here I would say learn to treat yourself as your own best friend. As that, there's no need to scold or shame yourself, but have grace in acknowledging mistakes without dwelling on them. Also, realizing you're human and won't always be perfect. The more you can make space for ALL parts of you and appreciate each of those parts (especially the "difficult" ones) the more you'll become a powerful, embodied coach.