Move and Groove 53 - Be an impostor
Eric Reiners
Coach | Advisor | Founder - I help corporate athletes unlock their true potential with neuroscience backed techniques.
I have felt impostor syndrome more times than I can count. For me, it feels like the anxiety with a little paranoia thrown in, just one failure away from being discovered as a fraud. But, over and over again, trying to demonstrate competence drove me to gain knowledge, skills, and confidence.
For example, when I moved from the products org to work for the sales engineering organization, I remember thinking "well, of course I can demo the product, I helped build it!". This was false confidence based on a false assumption that an SE's primary responsibility was demonstrating product. I knew little about the power of the sales engineer in creating customer outcomes - a much more complicated and important responsibility.
I was an impostor.
When I saw how great sales engineers demonstrate customer outcomes and build deep trust with buyers, I knew I was swimming in new and deeper water.
This experience drove me to learn the craft and science of sales engineering so that I could serve the team and our customers better.
It took one year to feel somewhat confident. Two years - more confidence.
It's normal to feel like an impostor if you care about what you do and are aware of your limitations.
Neuroscience Nugget
Your brain's response to new challenges is fascinating. When facing novel situations, your amygdala becomes more active and your prefrontal cortex works overtime to process the new information. Your response to this can be adaptive or maladaptive.
For example, impostor syndrome may make you fear failure feedback because you will interpret it as evidence of your inadequate ability (maladaptive). An adaptive response considers negative feedback as useful information that supports the longer term goals of learning and developing mastery (Zanchetta et al., 2020). This heightened state of self-awareness correlates with better learning outcomes and professional development (Vergauwe et al., 2015).
Impostor feelings are especially common among high-achievers who regularly push themselves into new territories. Moderate levels of self-doubt coupled with high self-awareness create an optimal state for learning and growth. When you stay in this "productive discomfort zone" your brain forms new neural pathways effectively.
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Pep Talk
Impostor syndrome is not a bug, it's a feature! When you're stepping into a new role or domain, feeling like an impostor isn't just normal – it's a sign that you're exactly where you need to be for growth.
The anxious feelings are your brain's way of saying "We're in new territory, and we need to learn quickly!"
When the anxiety or paranoia appears, ask yourself: "What new skill am I developing right now? What am I learning in this moment?" Turn that self-doubt into self-awareness, and watch how it transforms from your perceived weakness into growth.
The most successful people aren't the ones who never feel like impostors – they're the ones who recognize these feelings as stepping stones to their next level of excellence.
Keep moving, keep grooving, and most importantly, keep growing through those uncomfortable moments!
Be well,
Eric
P.S. Enjoy these resources on your journey:
Supply Chain Leader | High-Performance Transformations | Building teams to achieve lower costs and higher performance
2wJust saw another story on LInkedIn, and this is echoed and reinforced by the US Navy SEAL instructors: “Never rest on yesterday’s laurels. Instead, do one thing – every day – that challenges you, that makes you uncomfortable. If you never become complacent, you’ll achieve greatness.”