A Cure for your Impostor Syndrome

The paradox of impostor syndrome—or impostor thoughts—is that you are usually very smart, very much an expert, and highly accomplished.

And yet, you feel like you’ve somehow tricked people into believing you belong!

Literary giant, Maya Angelou, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, is arguably one of the most influential storytellers of all time - I read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings during middle school deep in the foothills of the Himalayas. I remember how are words felt me with awe and inspiration. Across continents, across cultures, her voice reached me. That’s how I remember her and the power of her words.

And yet, despite all of her accomplishments, despite the status of power she held inside my head, I learned that she had once admitted

"I have written eleven books, but each time I think, ‘Uh-oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.’"

Woah - A woman whose impact is undeniable, still questioned whether she was truly good enough. Still feared that one day, people would realize she was an imposter.

If Maya Angelou, THE Maya Angelou, felt this way, what does that tell us?

It tells us that impostor syndrome doesn’t care about achievements. It doesn’t care about talent. And apparently, it doesn’t disappear even once you reach that elusive level of success.

And most importantly, it tells us that feeling like a fraud is not proof that you are one.

The Paradox

Impostor thoughts don’t stem from incompetence. They stem from competence.

The more you know, the more you realize how much there is to learn.

That awareness can make you doubt yourself, even when you are objectively capable.

The irony? The ones who never feel imposter syndrome often lack the self-awareness to realize their own limitations.

Nobody is Measuring You Like You Measure Yourself

Are you the best in the world at what you do? The best in North America? In the top 10, the top 500, the top 5,000?

It doesn’t matter.

Your peers, customers, and/or employers don’t care about some arbitrary ranking system. They care that when they work with you, they get value. A ROI of sorts.

Think about the last time you hired someone - a lawyer, a doctor, a career coach, or a financial advisor. Did you spend hours researching whether they were the best in the world? Did you check if they held a world record in their field? Probably not.

You likely asked for a referral, checked a few reviews, and made sure they seemed competent and trustworthy. That was enough. A bit of social proof, and you moved forward.

Your future employers and clients think the same way about you. They’re not fixated on whether you made a “Top 50 Under 50” list or ranked #1 in some industry leaderboard. They care about one thing: Can you solve their problem?

So don't undersell yourself. And don't sweat over arbitrary rankings. The people who need you aren’t looking for the best in the world - they’re looking for the right person for them. And that person is you.

The Cure for Impostor Syndrome

The cure for Impostor Syndrome is simply this, be useful to one person or one group. That’s it. Show up, provide value, and focus on the impact you make rather than the doubts in your head.

And while you’re at it, try these mindset shifts to keep imposter thoughts in check:

1. Stop chasing an invisible finish line - One thing I can promise you - there will never be a moment when you suddenly “arrive” and all doubt disappears (Trust me I have tried!). Accept and honor the big and small wins right now.
2. Shift the focus outward - Imposter thoughts thrive when you’re obsessed with how you compare to other people's accomplishments. Instead focus on this mantra, "how can I be of service to _________" If you focus on helping others, self-doubt will slowly fade away.
3. Recognize that confidence doesn’t equal competence - So many people walk around full of confident swagger. Remember even they don’t have ALL the expertise/experience to back it up. I call this "unearned confidence." Confidence alone is not proof of competence. Just because someone speaks with authority doesn’t mean they know more than you. It just means they believe they do (or they’ve learned how to fake it!). So yes, build your own confidence, of course. But don’t allow someone else’s self-assurance make you question your abilities.
4. Experts make mistakes - The most respected professionals in any industry have failed - many times. The difference is, they fall down and then they pick themselves up! They learn, adjust, and move forward.
5. Lean into your story - No one else has your exact perspective, and that’s your advantage. Stop waiting for someone to grant you permission to be an expert. If you’re solving problems and making an impact, you already are.

Closing Thoughts

Feeling like an impostor doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. It means you’re aware. It means you’re pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone.

The next time impostor thoughts creep in, remind yourself:

Nobody else is measuring you the way you measure yourself. You don’t have to be the best. You just have to be their best—the best for the people you serve, help, and impact.

And if you’re doing that?

Then you’ve already won.

Dorothy Mashburn is on a mission to empower women of color (and allies!) to steer their career journey and confidently negotiate their value. She can be reached here.

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