How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome as a Leader

I had a panic attack in front of a client at 26. Thought my sales career was over before it started. 10 years later, I was winning $50M+ in transformation deals. Here's what imposter syndrome taught me: It's not a bug. It's a feature. That voice saying "you don't belong here?” It shows up every time you level up. New role at $45K? Panic attack. First enterprise deal? Sleepless nights. Strategic account role? Daily doubt. $1.5M earnings? Still felt like a fraud. Most sellers try to eliminate it. Winners learn to dance with it. The reframe that changed everything: Imposter syndrome is your growth alarm. It only rings when you're expanding. No discomfort = No growth. No growth = Slow death. So when it hits, I celebrate. Here were 5 moves that helped me: 1. Document the evidence That voice lies. Data doesn't. I keep a "Proof File:" • Closed deals • Promotion letters • Client testimonials • Commission screenshots When doubt creeps in, I review the receipts. 2. Separate facts from fiction "I'm terrible at opening meetings" = Opinion "I closed 3 deals last quarter" = Fact Your brain catastrophizes. Your results tell the truth. 3. Find your “board of directors” Built a network of 3 people who've been where I'm going. They remind me that everyone feels like a fraud at altitude. Even them. Especially them. 4. Flip the script immediately Negative thought: "I don't deserve this role" Reframe: "I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be" Your thoughts become your reality. Choose better thoughts. 5. Use the discomfort as fuel Imposter syndrome is just fear of being exposed. So I over-prepare. Over-deliver. Over-invest in getting better. My anxiety became my competitive advantage. The plot twist: The sellers who never feel like imposters? They're the *real* imposters. Because if you're not uncomfortable, you're not growing. And if you're not growing, you're dying (or being blinded by ego). That panic attack at 26? Best thing that ever happened to me. It meant I was playing a bigger game than I was ready for. Today, I'm still playing above my comfort zone. The difference? Now I know that's exactly where I belong. 🐝 P.S. Still feel like a fraud sometimes? Good. It means you're one decision away from your next breakthrough.

Is that critical inner voice sabotaging your confidence? Here's your 3-step battle plan to silence it for good. Recently I witnessed a remarkable transformation at UC Berkeley School of Information. Graduate students who entered my public speaking workshop trembling with anxiety left confidently presenting their ideas. No magic involved. Just structured approaches, peer support, and breaking down intimidating challenges into manageable steps. Self-doubt can turn ordinary tasks into overwhelming obstacles. After a journey conquering my own inner critic (and helping clients do the same), I've identified 3 game-changing techniques to build up self-trust: 1) Recognize Your Inner Parts (Internal Family Systems) Your mind isn't one unified voice—it's a committee of different parts! That harsh critic? Just one member trying to protect you in its misguided way. When self-doubt strikes, pause and ask: "Which part is speaking right now?" Is it your perfectionist afraid of failure? Your overachiever terrified of looking incompetent? Don't fight these parts—acknowledge them: "I see you're trying to protect me, but right now I need to trust my capabilities. I've prepared for this." 2) Reframe Imposter Syndrome as Growth Energy Did you know up to 82% of professionals experience imposter syndrome? It's especially prevalent in tech where we're constantly navigating uncharted territory. But what if that uncomfortable feeling isn't a problem to solve? Try this perspective shift: - That discomfort signals you're stretching into new growth territory - Channel the nervous energy into preparation, not paralysis - View each learning curve as evidence of growth, not failure 3) Apply the "Let Them" Theory Mel Robbins' approach is brilliantly simple: Let people think what they want. Let them react however they choose. Let them misunderstand you. You can't control others' perceptions, but you absolutely control how you show up. Ask yourself: "What weather am I bringing today?" Replace every spiral that begins with "What if they think I'm not good enough?" with "Let me": - Let me trust I'm contributing my best - Let me decide I'm enough, regardless of external validation - Let me focus exclusively on what I can control You don't need permission to lead or perfection to add value. Everything you need is already within you - you just need to trust yourself to use it. Next time self-doubt creeps in, identify which inner voice is speaking, recognize that discomfort signals growth, and focus on what you control rather than others' opinions. What technique will you try first? Share in the comments! #SelfConfidence #LeadershipDevelopment #ImpostorSyndrome

Most people think imposter syndrome is a career killer. But it’s not. It’s a signal. 📍 You’re growing. 📍 You’re stretching. 📍 You’re doing something that matters. 🧠 62% of high achievers experience imposter syndrome at some point in their career. (Salari, et. al, 2025). Yet most don’t talk about it. They just try to hide it, and hope no one notices. And the endless mental loop gets louder: → “Don’t let them find out.” → “I should be more confident by now.” → “Maybe this means I’m not ready.” But I’ve learned that feeling like an imposter doesn’t mean you’re not qualified. It means you’re in the arena. I remember when I became a company officer and joined a board at 27. On paper I felt I had made it. And inside, I was bracing, like someone might tap me on the shoulder and say, “Hey… we made a mistake.” I later learned that feeling didn’t mean I didn’t belong. It meant I was stepping into a new version of myself. And it’s a feeling I’ve seen show up again and again in brilliant, hardworking leaders who are quietly carrying so much. When you stop fighting imposter syndrome, you stop performing from fear, and start leading from power. Here’s how I co-exist with it and teach high-performers who feel it too: 1. Separate feelings from facts → “I’ve done hard things before. I’ll figure this out too.” 2. Use doubt to fuel mastery → You don’t need to feel ready. You just need to keep showing up. 3. Talk back to the critic → “What if this is the version of me that rises?” 4. Track your wins like data → Keep a ‘Wins Portfolio.’ Pull it out when your inner critic gets loud. 5. Redefine success on your terms → Not their finish line. Yours. You don’t need to silence imposter syndrome. You just need to understand what it’s trying to tell you. Because once you stop fearing it… you unlock the part of you that’s been ready all along. Imposter syndrome isn’t your enemy. It’s your upgrade code. ❓What’s one imposter moment that ended up being a breakthrough for you? Tag someone who needs to hear this today. ➕ Follow Loren Rosario - Maldonado, PCC for raw, real career rewrites that feel like coaching. 📊 Sources: Salari, et.al. (’25) 📸 Quote: Steven Bartlett #Careers #LeadershipDevelopment

When I was promoted from Senior Manager to Director, I struggled with severe impostor syndrome. Then, when I was promoted to Vice President, it was even worse. Here are 4 ways I fought it and how you can too: 1) Normalize it. If you worry that people might find out you don’t fully know what you’re doing, know this: it’s normal. Most people experience some level of impostor syndrome, especially in new roles. 2) Expect complexity. It’s completely normal to be in the biggest, most complex job of your life for much of your career. If you're not, it often means you’ve either stepped back intentionally—or faced a setback like a layoff. Growth means doing harder things than ever before. 3) Ask for help. Be open with mentors about what you need. Discuss your challenges and ask for input. If you're in an environment where admitting “development areas” feels risky, reframe your language and ask for *help optimizing performance and delivery*. No one argues with optimization, and the result is the same—insight and support. 4) Work on your mental game. Hire a coach, therapist, or counselor if you need one. Top performers rely on a strong mental foundation. Pro athletes and performers work with coaches—leaders should too. Who do you know that’s struggling with impostor syndrome? Share this post with them. If you feel comfortable, share your own experiences below.

The uncomfortable truth about impostor syndrome that no one talks about If you never feel like an impostor, you're probably failing at life. Studies estimate that up to 70% of people will experience at least one episode of impostor syndrome in their lives. Maya Angelou had it. Einstein called himself a "swindler." But here's what nobody tells you: "Impostor syndrome isn't a character flaw. It's a growth signal" Your brain is doing exactly what it's designed to do - alerting you when you're in uncharted territory. The question isn't how to eliminate the feeling. It's how to use it. Here are 5 reframes I use with clients that will change everything: 1. Reframe it as evidence you're growing ↳ When you feel like a fraud, ask: "What new challenge am I taking on?" Replace "I don't belong here" with "I'm exactly where I need to be to grow." 2. Normalize the learning curve ↳ Accept that feeling uncertain is part of mastering something new Remember: Every expert was once a beginner who felt over their head. 3. Focus on contribution, not perfection ↳ Shift from "Do I deserve to be here?" to "How can I add value right now?" Your worth comes from what you contribute, not from being the most intelligent person in the room. 4. Collect evidence of your competence ↳ Keep a "wins file" - positive feedback, successful projects, problems you've solved. Review this evidence when impostor thoughts arise. 5. Use it as motivation for growth ↳ Channel the discomfort into learning: Feel inadequate? Get training Let impostor syndrome become your compass for personal development. The bottom line: The people who never feel like impostors are either not challenging themselves or lack the self-awareness to grow. Impostor syndrome often means you're exactly where you need to be - challenged, developing, and contributing at a level that matters. Stop trying to cure it. Start using it as rocket fuel. Coaching can help; let's chat. Follow Joshua Miller for more on Mindset, Leadership + Coaching Tips. #executivecoaching #impostorsyndrome #coachingtips #mindset