Walking the Talk...

Does Imposter syndrome exist?

And if it does, should we label it a syndrome and something bad, or look at it as an experience?

I've?seen a few articles about this over the last few weeks and I?don’t?know the honest answer. I do know that I question myself regularly about whether I ‘should’ do something or ‘say’ something in certain situations. Whether I should ‘comment’ on something on a thread that?contains?the opinions of more qualified and/or experienced people. This has certainly been the case for me over the last 12 months which has seen me leave a senior leadership position in a Charity to become an Associate Coach in a professional and personal development organisation. I have at times read articles or opinion pieces that have inspired me and equally some that I have thought were complete rubbish.?The vast majority of?the time I choose not to comment either way.

Quite often in sessions with coaching clients and the mastermind groups I have been involved with, individuals will talk about not doing something and we look at what’s?holding them back. It can come from a variety of places. I’m?yet to meet someone who has told me their reason for holding back is that they can’t?be bothered (and if they did, I would tell them it's?time to move on!) In fact, most of?the time the main reason for holding back is fear. Fear of exposure, of not knowing something, or having an opposing view. Fear of the perception?of others, what will they think of me, or plain and simple, fear of being wrong. All of these are of course self-limiting beliefs. The things which we tell ourselves, based on our experiences which we hold on to?protect ourselves or in the belief it will serve us better.?

I remember?walking into board meetings and feeling like the kid who had been sent on an errand to the staff room at school! Whilst situational context is important (it was an older and male-dominated environment), the vast majority of?those feelings came from an internal place.

Am I good enough to be here?

Will they value my opinion?

What if I say something someone will disagree with?

In hindsight, of course, I know that I absolutely was good enough to be there. They completely valued my opinion because my experience was what they wanted to hear. Yes, I was sometimes disagreed with, which was neither the end of the world nor meant I wasn’t?right.?

What I have learned through coaching, and indeed being coached, is the importance of confidence, vulnerability, and being open. And how they walk hand in hand in many situations. The confidence in knowing that you are there for a reason and your opinion and experience is of value, the vulnerability to say, I’m?still learning, or I don’t?know, and the openness to learning something you may not have known before.?

I’ve?procrastinated about writing content for a while now, but I wanted to embrace what I tell others to do. I have the experience to share but I'm?learning, and I really want to improve. So?here goes...

Coach Kelly - Associate Coach

Kelly has worked exclusively in the public and not for profit sectors which has included everything from frontline case work to Senior Leadership roles. The common factor in all of her roles has been empowering people to move forward from where they are now to where they want to be. This can be work place or employment goals, to much bigger questions around purpose and satisfaction. She is particularly motivated by working with individuals who are looking at changing direction or those who have big aspirations for their lives!?As a coach Kelly specialises particularly in facilitating mastermind groups. She has personal experience of being part of mastermind groups over the years to develop her own senior leadership positions and brings all this experience across to merge it with her coaching experience. Kelly is excited to support you on this mastermind. Kelly Feehan