For people who want regular personal or professional development advice from a qualified executive coach.
A New Way I Think About Imposter Syndrome
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Helping people to overcome imposter syndrome is a regular part of coaching. You might be surprised that lots of very successful people admit to their coach that they feel they will be found out. In most cases this isn't rational, it is just the consequence of trying to work on things that are hard and complex a lot of the time. Sometimes I help people in a radical way when it comes to this. I ask them to consider that they really are an imposter. I ask them to think about all the reasons why it is true that they feel that way. Maybe they didn't go to the right school, have the wrong accent, are too young or too old. Maybe they don't have the skills or the training that others have. Perhaps they really did make a big mistake or two. But then we put that in perspective. They earned their place in the room somehow despite all of these things. They have already overcome these obstacles (real or perceived) just to be allowed to feel like they don't belong. And they can only feel like an imposter because they are in the position they are in. They have already proved to themselves that being an imposter is nothing. It is no impediment to their progress. It doesn't mean anything. And so, from this point forwards, being an imposter can be fuel for improvement and a genuine badge of strength. After all. We're all imposters when we step into a new room. The only way to avoid it is to stay exactly as you are. Stephen -- Join the HeRO Program if you want to learn how to really believe in yourself. Find out more about Stephen Lock Coaching. Includes details of my corporate offers and services. Take my Path to Fulfilment audit (new for 2025) to understand what might be missing in your life. Try the Stagnation Breaker, to think about how to shift when you are stuck. Subscribe to "Ask Better. Lead Better." to learn better leadership techniques from a coach. For anything else, hit reply. I answer every email personally. |
HeRO Chronicles
For people who want regular personal or professional development advice from a qualified executive coach.
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