Imposter syndrome: the feeling you get when you are growing

Colleagues,

Today I’m working with a group of non-profit leaders in Franklin, NC.

One of the topics we are looking at is imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is the feeling that you are not worthy or capable of being in the position you are in.

Commonly, there are a range of degrees:

• No imposter syndrome
• Some
• Very high

About 10% of my participants fall into the none category. About half fall into very high.

Imposter syndrome can be debilitating and it sucks the joy out of work.

I teach my leaders five strategies to quell imposter syndrome, but the fifth one is the simplest.

Just reframe what imposter syndrome is.

Imposter syndrome is the feeling you get when you are doing something that is helping you grow.

Seth Godin said it this way: “Imposter syndrome is the sign that you are pushing your edge.”

Framed this way, I can lean into imposter syndrome and accept it as part of the price of growth.

Cheers!

Frederick