Feel Like An Imposter? How To Lead In A Confidence Crisis

Imposter syndrome is what happens when you doubt your abilities and feel like a fake or a phony, regardless of what success you’ve achieved. But if you sometimes feel like an imposter, you’re not alone. In fact, research suggests that an estimated 70% of people have suffered from imposter syndrome at some point in their lives.

But what happens when imposter syndrome strikes at a crucial leadership moment? How can you lead when you’re suffering a crisis of confidence?

1. Go back to your goals

Self-doubt is part and parcel of being a leader. So when you’re navigating times of challenge and uncertainty, it can help to set goals and regularly reconnect with them.

“Realistic goal-setting involves breaking grand visions into measurable, manageable steps,” says Georgie May, a wellness activist, social media strategist and author of Lucky Girl: Unveiling the Secrets of Manifesting a Lucky Life.

May believes that setting goals provides clarity while establishing “a tangible roadmap toward success”, so that even when it feels like things are going wrong, you still have a sense of control and motivation.

To complement this strategy, leaders need to regularly evaluate whether their ambitions align with the realities of the landscape and their organization’s own internal goals.

“Leaders must stay attuned not only to industry shifts, internal capabilities and changing circumstances, but also to how personal goals align with their higher purpose,” May argues. “This introspective approach ensures that goals remain relevant and attainable, preventing the misalignment of aspirations with the evolving realities of the organization.”

2. Sell yourself to yourself

Confidence is a fragile thing. It is particularly fragile when you’re stepping up to a new level of leadership, a time when your self-belief may soar or when you may instinctively step back in self-doubt. In this situation, how you handle imposter syndrome could be the difference between having the success you want or settling for something in your comfort zone, says Fiona Harrold, an executive coach, business mentor, consultant and author of Be Your Own Life Coach.

American surgeon Maxwell Maltz, who wrote the seminal book on self-image, Psycho-Cybernetics, said: “Your most important sale in life is to sell yourself to yourself.” This is advice that Harrold concurs with. “Every time you step up to a new level, you have to sell yourself to yourself,” she says. “You have to identify what you have to offer and why you are uniquely qualified for that role.”

Harrold recommends taking a pen and paper and writing out the following sentence: “Reasons why I am uniquely qualified to do x…” Your mind will then instinctively start searching for evidence to prove your point.

“You’re looking for substance, not spin,” Harrold says, “specific situations and results that demonstrate your readiness for your new level of leadership. Repeat, ‘I can do it’. You’re building conviction and certainty from within.”

Ultimately, says Harrold, your mind is a weapon that can be used for or against you, to weaken or strengthen you. “Your belief becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy. Back yourself!”

3. Separate facts from fiction

“Many of us are familiar with the painful experience of an inner-critic hijack,” says Julie Smith, a leadership coach, founder of consultancy Talent Sprout and author of Coach Yourself Confident: Ditch the self-doubt tax, unlock humble confidence. “Just at the moment when we need to access our confidence, the nagging inner voice that criticizes, belittles and judges us shouts loudly and brings our self-belief crashing down.”

Smith’s answer to this problem is to perform a simple self-leadership practice that will help calm your nerves and clarify your thinking in these moments. That practice is called truth telling.

“Next time you are hijacked, take a deep, settling breath and remind yourself that your inner critic lies to you,” Smith says. “Then shine a spotlight on those lies by writing down what your inner critic is telling you, and consciously separating out fact from fiction. What actually happened? What exactly was said? These are your facts.”

Smith points out that as none of us has a crystal ball, anything that is a prediction of the future is pure fiction. “Neither do we have the power to read minds,” she says. “So, if you find yourself imagining other people’s opinions, that’s fiction, too. Calm your nerves and regain your confidence by replacing fiction with fact. For example, the unhelpful fiction of ‘They’ll wonder why on earth they gave me this job’ becomes the truth that ‘This is a leadership board meeting, not a performance appraisal.’”

4. Know that having imposter syndrome makes you human

Since the majority of people experience imposter syndrome, there’s nothing unusual about it. In fact, it’s completely normal. So, give yourself a break next time you experience imposter syndrome and remember that it’s totally normal.

“Experiencing imposter syndrome means you’re human and you care, which is a good thing!” says Leanne Maskell, an ADHD coach and author of ADHD Works at Work. “Embracing your vulnerability enables you to show up with authenticity, self-compassion and empathy, empowering others to do the same.”

Maskell advises that asking yourself what is “good enough” can help you to define success on your own terms, instead of constantly moving the goal posts in your mind. She says: “Breaking down overwhelming experiences into SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) steps also enables us to turn any strong emotions into action, harnessing our impulsivity and bravery.”