Dealing with Imposter Syndrome

Imposter Syndrome stops you in your tracks. When you least expect it.

Last year, I coached a newly promoted Director. She’d been dreaming of climbing the ladder for a while. She was desperate to achieve her goal.

But when she got the news, she felt uncomfortable. Not what you'd expect.

Surely, she’d be happy??

From the outside, yes. She put a brave face on. But inside, she’d lost her confidence. She felt like an imposter. Like she didn't deserve any of her success.

Did they make the right decision??

A career of high performance is never straightforward.?

After the high of getting promoted, she felt uneasy. She wasn't waking with the same spark. Was she good enough for this role? Did her face fit?

Fear crept in.?Her inner critic grew louder.

She was great at her job. A senior manager loved by her team. Respected by her boss. Her promotion was deserved.?

But, without warning, she couldn't accept the way others felt. She told herself she didn’t deserve her new position.?

So, what happened next??

• She stopped contributing ideas in meetings
• And feared giving her opinion
• Her inner critic grew
• She felt lost

The pressure to prove herself started. All over again. Her mindset was working against her.

What is Imposter Syndrome?

It affects more people than you think. Both men and women.

It’s a thought process that makes you believe that you’re not good enough. A voice inside your head. Criticising your every move. Making you doubt your success.

It's all down to luck!

How we see ourselves is the real problem.?

“You shouldn’t have said that, keep quiet next time”.

“Why do you always mess up in front of your boss? Work later tonight”.?

Just some of the examples of Imposter Syndrome.

It often shows up in new situations. Like starting a new job for example.?

We overwork to impress others. We don’t feel good enough. Over-preparing for meetings. We need to prove we're capable of course!

This constant worrying isn’t productive.?

We are good enough to hold the positions we’re in. And the negativity we feel is rarely based on reality. This is the paradox of Imposter Syndrome.

If we leave feelings of being a fraud, it affects us. It harms our confidence. Our ability to move forward. It stops us from reaching our potential.?

At some stage, we have to break the cycle.

So, did my client beat her imposter? What did she do??

In our 1:1s, we discussed when she was feeling like a fraud. In what situations. Around what type of people.?

And once we’d done that, I helped her reframe those situations. Maybe the opposite was true? Most likely.

We worked on the small part of her that KNOWS she is good enough. That knows her talents. And what she’s capable of.?

Consequently, over the weeks and months we worked together, she gradually grew in confidence. The inner critic died down and was replaced by a kinder voice. One that supported her.?

She started to enjoy work again and accept her achievements.

It was a great success.

She proved that Imposter Syndrome can be beaten, with the right practice.?

These are all coaching techniques that I use in my 1:1 sessions. Sessions are available to start in April 2022. I’d love it if you can join me.?

If you’d like to experience the personal growth mentioned, then why not book a Consultation Call with me?

You can do this by clicking the link below.?