How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome for Introverted Women Leaders

Being in the minority increases the possibility of imposter syndrome. If your working environment is more favourable to extroverts, as an introverted woman leader, there is a higher chance of you feeling like an imposter.

Because imposter syndrome is something that is not openly talked about, if you experience it, you may think it is just you, but you are not alone. Imposter syndrome can affect senior leaders whether they are men or women, whether introverted or extroverted, whether black or white.

“Very few people, whether you've been in that job before or not, get into the seat and believe today that they are now qualified to be the CEO. They're not going to tell you that, but it's true…”

- Howard Schultz

Howard Schultz the former CEO and Chair of the Board at Starbucks was reported in the New York Times a while back as saying “Very few people, whether you've been in that job before or not, get into the seat and believe today that they are now qualified to be the CEO. They're not going to tell you that, but it's true…”

Whilst carrying out research for my book Quietly Visible: Leading with Influence and Impact as an Introverted Woman, 53% of women surveyed who were introverted and in senior leadership roles said they experienced imposter syndrome. This was despite having done well in their careers and having got to where they were on their own merit. Reports even show that 70% of the population experience imposter syndrome which includes men and women (both introverted and extroverted).

53% of introverted women who were senior leaders said they experienced imposter syndrome

For many of the women I coach who experience imposter syndrome, it has arisen as a result of experiences from their younger years. There are many misconceptions about what introversion is and many people think that because someone is introverted, they are shy, lack confidence and are socially withdrawn. Because of these misconceptions, some parents and carers try to bring the introverted child out of themselves. They push them to be more like their extroverted siblings. This sends out the message that the child is not good enough and they grow up believing this. 

Even teachers can unknowingly contribute to an introverted child believing that they are not good enough by failing to recognise that their introverted nature is something to embrace. I recently did a talk in a secondary school about introversion to students in years 9 and 10. Their initial thoughts reflected those that are seen in the workplace and society generally, i.e. that introversion is not valued. At that young age, they had already bought into the misconceptions and had a perception about introversion that wasn’t favourable.

Over time, the effects of imposter syndrome can cause stress, self-doubt, other emotional issues and even depression. It can chip away at your self-confidence. Many women put pressure on themselves and try to overcompensate by working excessive hours and/or always striving for perfection. This only makes matters worse.

It doesn't have to be doom and gloom

It doesn’t have to be doom and gloom though. Once you recognise that you are experiencing imposter syndrome, you can identify what action to take to address it. Do you worry that you’ll get found out that you’re not good enough? Do you look at others doing what you do, think that they’re much better and put yourself down in the process? Do you constantly strive to get things perfect because you think if you don’t people will see you’re not good enough? When someone praises you for what you’ve done, do you dismiss it and think you’re not worthy of the praise?

If you answer yes to the above questions, these are just some of the signs that you may be experiencing imposter syndrome. In order to stop feeling like an imposter, challenge your thoughts and beliefs and change the perception that you have about yourself and put in to practice the following: -

1. Make sure you are clear about what is expected of you and that you have the necessary skills to be able to deliver, particularly if you are fairly new in your role. When you are new in a role, the enormity of what is required can seem overwhelming and as a result, you deem yourself as not being good enough for it. Identify your learning and development needs and get the necessary training.
2. We are very much led by our emotions and often act and behave according to how we are feeling. This is as a result of the beliefs we hold about ourselves. Address any self-limiting beliefs and change what you think and believe about yourself. If you’re unable to do it on your own, get a coach who can help you with this.
3. If you are stressed and feeling anxious, you’re more likely to think irrationally about yourself. As a result, you are more likely to act according to how you are feeling, making way for imposter syndrome to creep in. Manage your stress levels and it will be easier for you to think rationally about yourself.
4. We often focus on what’s not going well or what we’re not good at, forgetting all the incredible things we have achieved. Focus on all the good things you are doing and achieving rather than the odd one or two that you struggle with. This will help you to put the imposter to bed and develop an optimistic outlook about yourself.

If you experience imposter syndrome, remember, it isn’t luck or a coincidence why you got the role you have, you got it because you were deemed the best person for it. Other people believe it, what will it take for you to believe it too?

What is your experience of imposter syndrome and how have you dealt with it? I would love to hear so please let me know in the comments below.

If you are an introverted woman who is a leader or aspiring leader and experiencing imposter syndrome or other self-limiting beliefs, join in my free 5-day mindset cleanse taking place from 16 to 20 March during National Introvert Week. For 5 days I will give you exercises and reflections to complete to help you challenge and change your unhelpful thoughts and self-limiting beliefs and feel more confident as a leader. You can join the challenge by joining my group here.

My book Quietly Visible: Leading with Influence and Impact as an Introverted Woman addresses many of the challenges that introverted women face as leaders and shows how these challenges can be overcome. The hardcopy is available here.

Or you can get it on Kindle here.

About Me

I am the Coach for High Achieving Introverted Women, an Executive, Career and Leadership Coach. I help quiet women to excel as leaders. I also help organisations to get more women and Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic employees into senior leadership roles and provide coaching, workshops, training and talks on personal development, career development and leadership development.

Are you an introverted woman in a leadership role who understands the importance of increasing your visibility online in order to increase your influence and impact as a leader, but struggle to do it in a way that feels authentic? If so, download my free training, Be Seen Be Heard, Stand Out Online: Self Promotion Training for Introverted Women Leaders here.