What do you do if you're a leader struggling with imposter syndrome?

If you’re a leader struggling with imposter syndrome…1) remember they hired you because they believed in your abilities 2) remind yourself of all of your past successes and those are what led you to your current role 3) remind yourself that YOU alone do not have to have all of the answers - you only need to ensure you build a team that collectively has Ty e answers 4) give yourself grace 5) get support from a mentor or coach 6) set reasonable small goals for yourself as you settle in to remind you that you’re making impact and belong there 7) lead with what you know 8) ask for help from others to learn your gaps - you’d be surprised how many are willing to help and how this humanizes you!

Accueillez le doute comme un allié. Loin d'être une faiblesse, il est un signal précieux qui peut vous guider vers une introspection constructive. En accueillant le doute, vous démontrez une véritable force de caractère et une volonté de croître. En tant que leader, cette reconnaissance authentique non seulement humanise votre parcours, mais inspire également ceux qui vous entourent à embrasser leurs propres vulnérabilités.

Recognise that no one on the planet has all the answers Everyone struggles with not knowing things, they don’t all call it imposter syndrome though, and not everyone worries about it to the same degree It’s normal to be anxious about what you don’t know However, I’m comfortable not knowing everything…and I’m very comfortable owning up to it and in asking questions or in asking for help I’ve never had someone say: “what do you mean you don’t know”, and I’ve always found people who will help So don’t let imposter syndrome derail you nor your thinking nor your confidence in your abilities I find the wisest and most humble people own it and just keep learning and growing.

Don't tackle it alone. Talk to peers, mentors, or a therapist. They offer fresh perspectives and coping strategies, reminding you of your achievements.

Identifiez quelques personnes de confiance – mentors, collègues, amis proches – et formez un cercle de soutien mutuel. Organisez régulièrement des discussions informelles pour partager vos défis et écouter ceux des autres. En échangeant ouvertement, vous bâtissez une communauté où les doutes peuvent être abordés sans jugement. Ce réseau devient une ressource précieuse pour obtenir des perspectives et des encouragements, transformant la recherche d'aide en une pratique de croissance et de résilience partagée.

Not feeling alone with imposter syndrome is incredibly important. I believe most leaders experience imposter syndrome in their career, so building a network of support really matters. I find that peers in similar roles at other organizations are a great support. I also want to add in the importance of working to find value and worth in yourself. It's hard to accept the support from others if you aren't supporting yourself first.

This is literally what I help new leaders with all the time. Imposter syndrome is a natural consequence of changed roles and responsibilities being handled by a person with unchanged identity. We explore who they are being and who the situation is requiring them to be, and help them bridge the gap. All it takes is a few coaching sessions.

Et si vous transformiez vos doutes en affirmations concrètes? Chaque fois que vous ressentez une pensée négative liée au syndrome de l’imposteur, notez-la. Ensuite, écrivez une affirmation basée sur un fait réel pour contrer cette pensée. Par exemple, remplacez "Je ne suis pas à la hauteur" par "J'ai dirigé avec succès ce projet et reçu des éloges de mon équipe." Tenez un journal de ces affirmations et relisez-le régulièrement. Cela vous fournira des preuves tangibles de vos compétences et de vos réussites, renforçant ainsi votre confiance et ajustant votre perception de vos capacités à la réalité de vos accomplissements.

Identify what you believe differentiates impostors from non-impostors. Then challenge that belief. Then stop believing impostors exist. I believed real designers went to design school. Even after 10 years as a professional designer with multiple promotions and patents, I thought I was an impostor because I didn't go to design school. That was the belief I had to challenge. But what really helped was believing that no one is an impostor. There are no "real" designers or "impostor" designers. Instead, everyone has different strengths and experiences. We're all learning, we're all practicing, and we all need help. What do you believe differentiates an impostor from a non-impostor in your field? And what happens once you stop believing that?

Reframe your thinking...there is (should be) no such thing as Imposter Syndrome. That term was created by one group to make other groups mainly women and others feel like they are imposters or not enough. That is preposterous...I have worked with and for so many senior leaders ...everyone questions themselves at some point in their careers and daily lives...everyone. period. There's a great Harvard Business Review article that I love called "Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome (Feb 2021). This article provides the right and more accurate path of action...get rid of the systems / fix the broken processes that have been in place for decades that insinuate / make women feel like they are "imposters". I don't support using that term

We all have an inner critic. It's how we're wired. And it's hard to stop the thoughts from popping up. The key is not to give them too much oxygen. When you have a negative thought, learn to recognize it for what it is, and understand that the thought doesn't define you now or in the future. Remind yourself of what you've achieved. And don't give the mic to your inner critic.

Embrace opportunities to push yourself forward and make progress whenever they arise. Advocate for yourself and believe in your worth. If you're afraid to do something, do it anyway, even if you have to do it afraid!

Set ABC goals: A goal - the penultimate/ideal outcome B goal - a realistic/"that works!" outcome C goal - what will you learn?

Adoptez une approche évolutive. Commencez par des objectifs modestes et augmentez progressivement leur complexité au fur et à mesure que vous gagnez en confiance et en compétences. Cette méthode vous permet de célébrer régulièrement des succès concrets et de vous adapter en fonction des résultats obtenus. Chaque étape franchie renforce votre assurance et vous prépare à relever des défis plus grands avec sérénité!

Seek feedback and support *Ask trusted colleagues, mentors, or supervisors for honest feedback on your performance and leadership *Seek guidance and advice from those who have faced similar challenges and can offer perspective and encouragement *Build a supportive network of individuals who believe in your abilities and can provide ongoing validation and support

Setting overly ambitious goal makes you very prone to failure and disappointment. Instead try to set ambitious goals, break them down in feasible and realistic targets and also celebrate successes along the way. This way instead of not feeling great for, for example, still working on that one research, you can be happy that this week you've managed to review XYZ articles required for writing it and write XYZ pages as a part of your first draft.

Installez une routine de croissance hebdomadaire. Chaque semaine, prenez 15 minutes pour réfléchir à un défi surmonté, une nouvelle compétence acquise, et un domaine à améliorer. En documentant vos progrès, vous reconnaîtrez votre croissance continue et valoriserez vos compétences, réduisant ainsi le sentiment d’incompétence.

In my experience, imposter syndrome is all ego...the most powerful remedy is accepting you won't always have the answer, but you will always be learning. Get comfortable with not knowing it all, and remind yourself that even the most seasoned leaders need to Google every now and again! Lean on your colleagues, stay curious and utilise the tools you have available to enrich your knowledge. Celebrating the wins (big or small) and embracing challenges as opportunities for development, rather rather than shortcomings, can totally change the mindset that you're not anywhere other than where you're supposed to be.

If you're a leader struggling with imposter syndrome, embracing learning can be a powerful remedy. Recognize that continuous learning is a key component of effective leadership. Seek out new knowledge and skills through courses, workshops, and reading. View challenges as opportunities for growth rather than as threats to your competence. Surround yourself with mentors and peers who can offer support and perspective. By committing to lifelong learning, you can build confidence in your abilities, gradually overcoming feelings of inadequacy and reinforcing your role as a capable and evolving leader.

Realising and accepting the fact that you can always do better is a powerful way to start tackling your imposter syndrome. Releasing yourself from pressure of being perfect helps to be more comfortable with your own gaps in knowledge and limitations. There's nothing shameful in saying "I don't know" and "I will have to get back to you once I sort it"

A growth mindset, a learning mindset, is what it's all about. Growth and development is a positive. Embrace asking for help and support. I tell the story often of a senior executive, at a company I previously worked for, who would exit very large important meetings and ask for feedback about his delivery and how the information was received by attendees. You would think leaders know it all - but the great ones embrace learning and feedback to grow even stronger.

Visualizing and meditation can genuinely lead to actual manifestation. Visualizing your success not only comes from a future tense sort of lens but also channeling the emotions and confident pride you felt in moments of success in the past. Nostalgia and harnessing the right emotion combined are things that can be a powerful cocktails in capturing that feeling you have when you know you're beyond capable, talented, and crushing it. As well, you can easily spiral with socials in bad ways, but take it the reverse direction and read of people who have beaten all odds and been in the same position with the same feelings, or folks who took a different path and route that broke a mold or traditional timeline that you felt you should have nailed.

Practice self-compassion *Treat yourself with kindness, understanding, and forgiveness, just as you would a respected colleague or friend *Acknowledge that everyone, including leaders, experiences self-doubt and makes mistakes *Engage in self-care activities that promote your physical, emotional, and mental well-being

When imposter syndrome creeps in, it's easy to get caught up in negative self-talk. Instead, try visualizing yourself succeeding in your role. Imagine the confidence and authority you'll exude when making tough decisions. See yourself leading your team to achieve remarkable results. By visualizing success, you'll begin to rewire your mind with positive thoughts and build the confidence you need to lead effectively.

Taking a moment to pause and reflect on our thought patterns is crucial. By becoming aware of and labeling these thoughts, we can begin to take meaningful steps to overcome challenging situations. Recognizing self-sabotaging thoughts is the first step; replacing them with powerful positive thoughts can significantly reduce their impact. If needed, seeking support from a professional coach can be incredibly beneficial in this journey.

Practice self-compassion. Treat yourself with kindness like you would a friend. Celebrate wins, however small. Remember, everyone experiences doubts; it's how you respond that matters.

Even top leaders feel this way sometimes. Reflect on all the things you've achieved. Remember small wins and how you've helped others—recognize your own success.

Reflecting on where these feelings of imposter syndrome are coming from can be enlightening. Are they rooted in past experiences or ingrained beliefs? And how much of what we're feeling is actually true? Often, we'll find that our inner critic exaggerates our shortcomings. Additionally, it's important to consider if we're triggered by imposter syndrome after comparing ourselves to our peers. Comparison can be a slippery slope, leading us to doubt our own worth and abilities. By asking these questions, we can gain clarity and perspective, ultimately empowering ourselves to challenge and overcome imposter syndrome.