I recently wrote an article on the imposter syndrome – “Fake it till you make it”, in a Business Sense publication and had a great reaction to it. This topic comes up in numerous coaching sessions, which makes the work of a coach so invaluable. There has been great insight and learning from identifying this phenomenon by clients, along with coming up with ways of proactively dealing with it, through some decisive actions.
Let’s take an example to recap: “I was paralysed, unable to make a move. I was stuck in a job that was far beneath my skill sets, underpaid, and treated poorly. I had all the credentials to take a leap – a PhD from an Ivy League university, two master’s degrees, and connections in the right places – but I was terrified and doubted the power of any of it. I was fearful that if I left, my boss might try to bad-mouth me, which would ruin all the goodwill that I had built around those relationships. I was fearful about my ability to do anything else beyond this job. I was fearful about almost everything related to leaving this job, so I stayed.” – Lisa Orbe’-Austin.
Other examples are as follows:
Employees do not think they deserve a raise or promotion despite their years of service and success
Students who feel out of place among their classmates even though their test scores and grades are as good as or better than their peers
Friends who feel undeserving of acceptance and fear that they are going to be “found out”
The damage that impostor syndrome causes to people’s personal and professional lives can be significant. When they buy into impostor stories and treat them as fact, it can stop them from putting themselves out there, taking risks or moving forward. These cases are common – it could be like a movie from your own life in rewind. So, let’s unpack some of the similar fears of others.
Individuals who experience the impostor syndrome are less likely to engage in career planning and move into leadership positions while being more likely to experience job dissatisfaction and burnout. This can lead to a world of loneliness and social isolation which can take a toll on the wellbeing of individuals. A client in a coaching session said to me, “It gets really lonely out there.” However, it is important to note that people do have the power to combat loneliness by developing strategies to create meaningful connections and thrive in an increasingly disconnected society. It is important to talk about these feelings to trusted friends or other individuals.
Impostor syndrome can manifest itself in the workplace, to the detriment of high performing individuals. As a coach, I have worked with people who have high levels of capability and are in senior positions but hold back in meetings and do not contribute. Two weeks ago, I did a coaching session with Mary who identified one of her challenges as “Finding and using her voice in the boardroom”.
During meetings, individuals are often thinking to themselves, “How did I get into this room with people who are clearly smarter than me?”. I also work with women with great skill in their respective fields, but they often find themselves in work situations where they are the only female. In these cases, cultural biases and stereotypes can come into play and be turned against oneself. A woman who is in a stressful position to begin with may start to question herself and whether she truly belongs – and yet she is truly capable, more than capable. She needs to talk to somebody, to whom she can open up and walk alongside her through this challenge.
What can be done?
For employers, it is important to be mindful that in this world where there is a war for talent, high performing employees must be taken care of, in order to retain them. Employers need to be trained in how to manage valuable employees with great gifts and talents, or rather scarce and critical skills. They need to understand this phenomenon as it may be impacting on some of their best employees.
No matter what their profession, gender, age, race or background, anyone who experiences impostor syndrome can take steps to turn around self-defeating thoughts. During an interview, former First Lady Michelle Obama stated, “I still have impostor syndrome. It never goes away. The important thing is to ensure that it doesn’t severely diminish your daily life and that you come to terms with your greatness. We need to weaken its hold on us and develop self-confidence to help see how much power we have over our lives.”
The roots of the syndrome can be managed with the help of a coach or trusted friend – where they can address their reliance on others’ opinions for their self-worth. They can reframe the negative messages they have received throughout their lives about why they are not smart or capable enough. They can re-evaluate their motivations for learning and performing.
It is important to recognise their worth and value, and not to remain in a job where they are undervalued. Looking for a new role will give them a sense of their worth in the marketplace, and they can get help with this search. The journey to conquering imposter syndrome begins with your commitment to valuing yourself and choosing a different path for your life. There are many pathways to get assistance. The important thing is to take action.
Jacquie recently conducted a webinar on this topic. To view visit
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