A recent article noted that the majority of CEOs and leaders in organizations worldwide experience impostor syndrome. For those not in leadership positions, it might seem odd that those at the pinnacle of corporate success grapple with this challenge. However, when we look deeper, it makes more sense.
Leaders often end up in their roles after finding success within an organization. They’ve done a particular job quite well, such as developing a software product. They’re exceptional developers; however, once they become leaders, they no longer spend time developing software. Instead, they must turn their attention towards developing their people.
Unfortunately, organizations rarely provide leadership training. New leaders are often left to their own investigations on how to lead. Once promoted, new leaders often flounder without training and guidance, leading to imposter syndrome.
What is imposter syndrome?
Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon that can make accomplished individuals feel like frauds despite clear evidence of competence and achievements. It can occur in various contexts and isn’t limited to leadership.
It is a very common and frustrating phenomenon that prevents people from feeling the self-confidence they have earned and deserve.
Signs that you might be experiencing imposter syndrome include:
- Attributing success to luck or other external factors
- Fear of being exposed as a fraud or failure
- Overworking or overachieving to meet high expectations
- Downplaying or dismissing accomplishments
- Feeling unworthy of attention or affection
- Self-doubt and low self-esteem
- Setting unrealistic goals and feeling disappointed when you fall short
- Sabotaging your own success
Why do leaders experience imposter syndrome?
If you’re a leader in a new role, you are particularly prone to experiencing imposter syndrome. There are various reasons why leaders tend to experience these feelings of doubt and lack of confidence.
High expectations. Leaders often face intense scrutiny and pressure to perform, amplifying self-doubt. Leaders who are also high performers may amplify these expectations in their own minds, making imposter syndrome worse.
Isolation. Leadership positions can be lonely, with fewer peers to relate to or confide in.
Rapid advancement. Quick promotions may leave leaders feeling unprepared for new responsibilities. Many of these responsibilities may require stepping out of comfort zones into new capabilities that diverge from previous successes.
Perfectionism. Many leaders set unrealistically high standards for themselves. After experiencing years of success, they may need more time to be ready to cope with the inevitable failures that all leaders must experience to hone their abilities.
Diversity challenges. Underrepresented groups in leadership may feel additional pressure to prove their worth. When you’re the only person who looks like you in a group, it’s easy to wonder what you’re doing there.
How to overcome imposter syndrome
If you’re feeling signs that imposter syndrome is having an adverse effect on your life, there are some things you can do to remedy it. Combat these feelings by:
Understanding yourself better. Knowing how you’re motivated can be the first step towards eradicating imposter syndrome. Knowing who you are makes you less likely to develop unrealistic expectations. You let go of unrealistic expectations to perform where you are unmotivated and lack the capabilities to do so. Humility as a leader is an exemplary trait. When you can embrace where you lack capabilities, you are more likely to surround yourself with people who have those skills.
Understanding your people better. Knowing how your people are motivated is critical for a leader. When you have feelings of imposter syndrome, it is even more important to understand the topography of your people. If you are unaware of how your people are motivated, you are less likely to be able to lead them well. Knowing whether your key people are Drivers, Achievers, or Relators can completely change how you communicate with them.
Acknowledging your accomplishments. While a primary leadership responsibility is acknowledging the achievements of their people, a leader must remember to recognize their own accomplishments, too. A leader’s achievements differ from those of previous roles, so make sure that you realign your goals and successes to your new responsibilities. The great thing is that you can feel accomplished when you’ve inspired your team to greater heights. Their success is also your success. Don’t leave yourself out of the celebratory picture, but maintain humility in front of your team.
Seeking mentorship and peer support. If you’re not part of a mastermind or group of peers in similar leadership roles, seek these out. You’re not alone in facing leadership challenges, and you can both learn from and support other leaders who may be facing imposter syndrome. Often, when lifting others up, you find greater strength and self-confidence in your abilities.
Embracing failures as learning opportunities. Every leader will eventually face some failures. Ensuring you reframe these failures as learning opportunities ensures that failures become stepping stones to success. It might seem impossible to reframe that experience as the key to success when you’re soaking in a fresh failure. Time will show you how the failures you’ve experienced contribute to overall success throughout your life and through any project.
Practicing self-compassion. When you’re feeling intense imposter syndrome, it might seem impossible to be compassionate to yourself. But doing so is even more important when it seems most challenging. Consider how you would treat a beloved friend going through similar doubts or pressures. How would you advise them? Treat yourself with similar compassion.
You’re in leadership for a reason
Remember, feeling like an imposter doesn’t make you one. True imposters rarely worry about being frauds. By addressing imposter syndrome head-on, you can build resilience and lead with greater confidence.
Center yourself in self-exploration and self-knowledge and act from your Motivational Dimensions. You cannot be an imposter if you’re authentically yourself. You can only go deeper into self-knowledge and explore and improve your impact on others and yourself.
The Motivation Code is one essential tool for self-knowledge and exploration. When you know how you’re truly motivated, your journey to becoming an extraordinary leader becomes the journey of being more of yourself.
