A senior manager is struggling with imposter syndrome. How can you empower them to make confident decisions?

I would say you need not conquer your imposter syndrome but support it by all possible means. Imposter syndrome means feeling that you do not know or master something well - but this is a positive attitude, not a negative one. It stimulates you to learn and achieve more. In such a dynamic area as Lean Manufacturing, you just can't be an expert in everything, so you need to continuously advance yourself: read books and papers, participate in professional conferences, discuss with experts, etc. I knew many "experts" who considered themselves absolute gurus but, in fact, turned out to be dinosaurs – often facing the same fate. Do not follow their pathway.

From my own perspective, my own imposter syndrome went away the moment I started documenting proof. If you have logic proof it helps a lot because you can tell your emotions it's a bunch of non-sense

I like the idea of exploring and understanding the roots of our fears and insecurities. I find it useful to help the client name what they are feeling and to provide examples of how it is being manifested. It's a bit of a reach for anyone to self-diagnose a "syndrome" and this in itself may be a hindrance to growth. We all feel like imposters at one time or another. When do we feel successful and capable? That is equally important.

Setting realistic achievable and measurable goals can only improve the confidence of people to strive continuously. Breaking them into to smaller tasks that can be achieved faster would improve the confidence. As an executive coach we should help them in setting such plan to make them trust in their judgment.

Passion and Compassion are both essential for doing any work well. One has to be passionate towards the word and have compassion to those who are working and that includes you. Whenever work happens, there can be mistakes and setbacks. That is part and parcel of work. But we should learn from these mistakes and setbacks and come out more stronger

I believe that mentorship indeed plays a crucial role in overcoming imposter syndrome. “Holistic Growth” is not just about seeking guidance externally but also about looking within. When we embrace our inner wisdom and connect with our deeper selves, we tap into a well of strength and authenticity. From a Spiritual Intelligence perspective, true confidence stems from aligning with our soul's purpose and trusting our intuition. By nurturing this inner connection alongside seeking external mentorship, senior managers can make decisions with clarity, conviction, and a profound sense of self-assurance.

Any real progress definitely involves risk. We have to take calculated risks if we want to achieve something. Uncertainty is always there and to overcome the same we have to take risks. Only by taking risks only we can break the path.

Reflection is essential for boosting confidence and understanding where the person's strengths are. We often need to recognize our achievements in our vital areas as we tend to think everyone can do it. I usually ask my clients to keep track of their achievements during a period of time to track the actual progress and results. That helps!