Dealing with That Nagging Doubt: Imposter Syndrome in Technology Leadership

Have you ever sat at your desk, surrounded by project plans and revenue strategy, and suddenly thought, "How did I get all this responsibility? Am I really the right person for this? What if I'm just winging it?" If so, you're definitely not alone. Welcome to what I call the Imposter Syndrome Club—a surprisingly large group, especially among us folks in technology leadership.

What is Imposter Syndrome?

When I bring up Imposter Syndrome to people I work with 9 times out of 10 they’ve never heard of it, so real quick let’s dive into what it is. ? Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where individuals doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent, often internalized fear of being exposed as a "fraud." Despite evident success, those experiencing it remain convinced that they don’t deserve the accolades they receive and attribute their success to luck or timing rather than to their own skills or qualifications.

Why Recognize and Move Past It?

Recognizing imposter syndrome is crucial because it often acts as an unseen barrier to personal and professional growth. It can lead to overworking, stress, and a reluctance to pursue new opportunities. Understanding that these feelings are a common part of many people's career journeys allows us to address them constructively, turning these doubts from a source of anxiety into opportunities for growth.

Whether it's handling the day-to-day challenges of our roles or venturing into the daunting world of job hunting, that little voice of doubt loves to chime in: "Maybe I'm not as skilled as I thought..." or "Surely, someone else could do this better, right?" And I’m not immune to it either.? Here I am, coaching some extraordinary minds in the industry and trying to build a platform & Mastermind of top-tier leaders, and sometimes even I catch myself thinking, "Who am I to be leading this charge? Am I thinking too big? Is there someone else better suited for this?".? Point is, it happens to most of us at some point.

Despite these moments of self-doubt, I've learned some practical ways to silence that pesky voice, both for myself and when I'm coaching others. Here are some strategies that have really made a difference:

1. Make a Brag List: Seriously, do it. Write down 10 things that make you a standout in your role. This can be anything from specific skills, like mastering complex software, to soft skills, like the way you handle team conflicts or drive project completion under pressure. It can even be your personality traits like being empathetic or a maximizer.? These are your personal wins that make you uniquely amazing for what you do —acknowledge them!
2. Reflect on Your Journey: Think about where you started and the path you've taken to get where you are today. Consider the challenges you've overcome and the milestones you've achieved. This isn't just about feeling good—it's about realizing the breadth and depth of your experience.
3. Seek External Validation: Okay I kinda cringed writing this one, because validation should come from within and all… BUT… Sometimes, we're our own worst critics. It's important to hear how others view our contributions. Whether it’s through formal reviews or casual conversations, gather feedback from peers, mentors, and team members. You might be surprised by how highly they think of your abilities.
4. Mentor Others: There's something incredibly reaffirming about mentoring. Sharing your knowledge not only benefits others but also reinforces your own expertise and value. Each time you help someone else overcome a hurdle, you'll remind yourself of your capabilities.
5. Keep Learning: Our field of emerging technology is always evolving, and staying updated is a powerful antidote to imposter syndrome. Whether through new certifications, attending industry events, or staying abreast of industry trends, continuous learning helps you maintain confidence in your expertise.
6. Create an Internal Board of Advisors: Build a network of trusted advisors who can offer you counsel and perspective. This can be through formal advisory roles or more casual mentorship circles. Engaging regularly with like-minded professionals can provide support and reassurance during times of doubt.
7. Embrace the Discomfort: Feeling like an imposter can actually be a sign that you're growing. It means you're stepping out of your comfort zone and taking on new challenges. Acknowledge these feelings but don't let them stop you. Instead, use them as motivation to push forward and grow.

Imposter syndrome is a common experience, especially for those of us who are continually pushing the boundaries of what's possible in our fields. Recognizing it as a natural part of the leadership journey can help you turn it from a source of stress into a signpost for growth. Next time that doubt creeps in, remember these strategies and use them to boost your confidence and take control of your narrative. Remember, you've earned your place at the table—not just because of where you are now, but because of the resilience and skill you bring every day.

Rooting for you always!

Ashley

P.S. - If you’re looking for a place to evolve with like-minded technology leaders in the sustainable transportation sector, our ChargedUp Mastermind can be a great place to leverage like-minded leaders' knowledge, experiences and networks to propel you forward in your careers.? Check it out HERE.

LATEST RESOURCES - In case you missed them...

Video Snippet - The best way to answer "Tell me about yourself" in an interview.

LinkedIn Live Replay - Strategies for Tech Leaders to Rally Teams Amidst Uncertainty

This was on last week's I know but thought with the riffs it was good to keep.... All the layoffs, funding scares, mergers and acquisitions have lots of people on their toes and a bit uneasy. What's harder is keeping them motivated and productive when the floor might fall through at any minute. Here's the replay of an awesome conversation with John Lafleur, former COO of Lordstown & his take WATCH HERE .

ReImagine Mobility's Latest Podcast - EVs & Talent: Navigating Mobility's Future w/ Ashley Taylor

A great discussion where AVL in North America 's President Stephan A. Tarnutzer, MBA and I discussed some of the trends we're seeing in workforce development in the industry. HERE

LASTEST POLLS

Drones in Delivery: Fad or Future? Most said future!

Importance of networking? Answer: Super Important! Can't say I'm surprised by this :)

INDUSTRY NEWS, JOBS, & COMPANIES ON MY RADAR:

Ok I could talk about the recent riffs, but I don't want to. And unless you live under a rock, you all know... SO instead let's talk about other things going on in the industry and where we can move forward....

With an influx of highly qualified people on the market, I want us to think in terms of transferrable skills and parallel industries. I've been having some really great conversations in regards to more emerging technologies. Here are some topics that have arose in recent conversations.

• Autonomous Robotics - although not completely new it's an area that's evolving quite quickly. Abyss Solutions Ltd came up in conversation who is doing autonomous inspection which I thought was pretty cool.
• AI and the boom in clean-tech manufacturing are pushing America’s power grid to the brink. Utilities can’t keep up. - Here's the Article from Washington Post.
• Other clean and renewable energy topics such as Carbon Capture.

My point being... stay educated and get creative on where you skills might benefit. Our ChargedUp Community has a biweekly roundtable about emerging technology and industry trends. Join the community HERE to become part of the conversation!

What I saw at SAE World Congress...

Okay, if I'm being honest, it was a bit smaller than it's been the previous years, but here are a few things that I saw to note.

General Motors 's Hydrogen Square seemed promising especially for medium duty fleets. Check out this article about what they have going on.

If you know me, you know that I am a fan of engineering services companies (you can take the girl outta engineering services, but cant take the engineering services outta the girl haha). Now I don't know much about their company culture and such, but Caresoft Global actually had a really great booth showcasing their teardown of the Tesla cybertruck. I truthfully didn't realize that one of their core competencies is benchmarking. (I could / should probably do an entire newsletter about engineering services companies and the trends I'm seeing.... making note haha).

There was a lot of talk of SDV (Software Defined Vehicles). I particularly spent some time chatting with the SDV Alliance where their goal is to join industry efforts to make SDVs a reality. Also chatted with my friend and presenter Amol Gulve about what Cognizant 's strategy is for SDV. Super interesting stuff!

New and ChargedUp approved job board - I've found a friend! I oftentimes hear frustration from job seekers on not knowing who to trust in terms of recruiters and job boards. I recently talked to John Rooney Co-Founder of the EV.Careers and think they are a really great resource for you guys who are wanting to stay in the EV space. Lots of openings. Take a look!

EV.Careers is the only electric vehicle focused job board in the world, connecting top talent with the best jobs. With EV.Careers , you can land your dream EV job or build out your dream team, all on one platform.

Upcoming Events on my radar:

May 9th - ChargedUp Careers Community Training "Thought Leadership for Technology Leaders" OPEN TO THE PUBLIC via registration.

• Get a taste of our weekly trainings and tune in. Registration is a must to get the zoom link. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER .

• May 13th & 14th - EV Charging Infrastructure Conference & Exhibition 2024 in Long Beach, CA https://evcharginginfrastructureconference.com/

May 17 - 19 - Overland Expo West - Flagstaff, Arizona

https://www.overlandexpo.com/west/

May 20-23, 2024 - Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Las Vegas, NV https://www.actexpo.com/

June 5-6 - AutoTech: Detroit in Novi, MI https://wardsauto.informa.com/

CAREER DEVELOPMENT TIPS & TRICKS

Here's an easy way to structure your LinkedIn Headline

What you are | What you bring to the table | How you bring it to the table | Something about you to set you apart

WHAT'S BREWING AT CHARGEDUP

CHARGEDUP MASTERMIND IS OFFICIALLY GROWING!

We're officially launching our ChargedUp Mastermind and ready to bring on a group of ~25 individuals to join us starting in May!! As you may know we've beta tested in for the past couple months and it's gone great. Join an exclusive group of like-minded leaders in the sustainable transportation sector looking to uplevel to a more fulfilling career with intentional action and authentic connection.

I wrote an entire newsletter with details about it last week (HERE ).

If this sounds like something you could say or want to say, you might want to check it out HERE and get early access extras.

Additionally - If you're not quite ready for the mastermind but do want the opportunity to network and have have access to career development live & on- demand trainings, exclusive networking events and virtual coffee pairings, as well as industry related fireside chats check out our ChargedUp Community !

Executive Career Coaching - Schedule a time to chat if you'd like to learn more about this!

Thanks for reading!

P.S. Remember, if you're looking to uplevel your career and want to explore strategy on how, I'm here and would love to help! Here's my calendly once again :)