Management Perspectives

Do you sometimes feel a nagging sense of self-doubt, worrying that you don’t have the capability to address the many challenges of your role? Or have you ever worried that someone is about to tap you on the shoulder and say, “We’ve realised that you’re not actually up to this job?” If so, then you’ve had first-hand experience of ‘imposter syndrome’—a term coined by American psychologists Dr Pauline Clance and Dr Suzanne Imes in the late 1970s.

And you are far from alone—a recent survey by global executive search and leadership consulting firm Korn Ferry found that well over half of first-line supervisors surveyed in India experienced imposter syndrome. And the percentage increased at more senior levels, with 73 per cent of the 238 Indian CEOs surveyed reporting that the pressure inherent in their leadership role triggered a nagging sense of self-doubt. Interestingly, deep down these CEOs know that they are not imposters—they know that they have the capability required to succeed.

A full 89 per cent of them affirmed that they are fully competent and deliver what their roles demand. What we’re looking at here is not a real lack of capability, but an imagined one. The question is how can we manage such feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt—how can we lead when imposter syndrome strikes? I have eight suggestions to offer.

1.Know that everyone doubts themselves

It is easy to imagine that our peers are oozing with confidence, and that we are the only one who worry about being found out, but this simply isn’t true. As well as looking at India, Korn Ferry’s survey gathered experiences from leaders in the US, UK, Middle East, Brazil and Australia, and the message was consistent: a significant proportion of leaders experience imposter syndrome. That is because self-doubt is part of the human condition. Successful entrepreneurs, politicians, experts interviewed live on TV— these people might come across as completely calm and self-assured, but, without a doubt, they have moments when they feel they cannot cope, they worry that they will say something ridiculous, they fear that they will buckle under pressure.

2. Settle yourself

When the uncomfortable feeling of being an imposter hits, try using the calming power of physical touch to take the body’s stress meter down a notch. Our skin is an incredibly sensitive organ, and research indicates that physical touch releases oxytocin (which helps to regulate our emotional response) and calms cardiovascular stress. Find a way to lay a hand on your bare skin. In short sleeves, this could be by purposefully folding your arms and gently holding your upper arms with your hands. In long sleeves, you might try putting a hand to the back of your neck and holding it there for a moment. This does not require any explanation to those around you; it is unlikely that anyone will notice what you are doing. You can just quietly settle yourself and set imposter syndrome aside.

3. Name your inner critic

You know that voice in your head that sometimes tells you that you are going to look like a fool? That is your inner critic, the voice of your imposter syndrome, and it lies to you all the time. Try giving your inner critic a name—it is a way to put some distance between what they say and your sense of self. Saying “Oh, Sunita is off again with her predictions of doom,” helps to diminish the impact of the inner critic’s harsh words.

4. Separate fact from fiction

When you notice that your inner critic is becoming really vocal, triggering those imposter feelings, try the simple selfleadership practice of truth telling. Take a deep, settling breath and remind yourself that your inner critic lies to you. Then shine a spotlight on those lies by writing down what your inner critic is telling you and consciously separating fact from fiction. What actually happened, what exactly was said—these are your facts.

None of us has a crystal ball, so anything that is a prediction of the future is pure fiction. Neither do we have the power to read minds, so if you find yourself imagining other people’s opinions, that is fiction too. Quieten your self-doubt 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.”

5. Be kind to yourself

When something goes wrong at work, reach for self-kindness rather than self-criticism. You can loosen the grip of imposter syndrome by asking yourself ‘if a friend were to find themselves in the situation that I am in right now, what would I say to them?’ It is unlikely that you would tell your friend that they are a fraud, no wonder things went wrong, and that they really should be fired. Much more likely that you would help your friend to put the situation in perspective and remind them of the many things that are going right. Extend that same level of kindness to yourself.

6. Take ownership of your strengths

This is about reminding yourself of your real capability—to counter the imagined lack of capability that comes with impostersyndrome. Grab a piece of paper and write ‘when I am at my best…’ at the top. Now fill the paper with as many ways that you can think of to complete that sentence. Finally, read what you have written (ideally aloud) to yourself. Try to really accept and enjoy these many strengths. Gathering feedback can be powerful too. Ask some trusted colleagues to offer you written or voice-recorded feedback on what they see as your strengths. Read (or listen to) their feedback two or three times. Take your time and really try to absorb what they are telling you.

7. Distinguish being a ‘learner’ from being an ‘imposter’

Uncertainty can act as an invitation for feelings of self-doubt: “I don’t know how to deal with this situation … but I should know.” This is flawed thinking. A more realistic take would be “I don’t know how to deal with this situation because it’s new to all of us.” There is a high degree of uncertainty, unpredictability, and complexity in the context within which you are leading. Try to let go of the ‘should’ that feeds a feeling of being an imposter and instead embrace your ability to be curious and to learn. Rather than berating yourself that “I should know how to do this,” remind yourself that “I’m learning all the time.”

8. Create a ‘that, so this’ inventory

Think back over the years and make a note of times when you have surprised yourself—you have achieved something that seemed really hard or you have come through a challenging period. This is a reminder of what you are capable of—your ‘if I did that, I can do this’ list to reach for when you have those imposter feelings. Experiencing imposter syndrome is uncomfortable. And it is surprisingly common. Whilst feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy are far from enjoyable, they can be overcome. These simple practices can help you to set aside those troublesome imposter feelings.