5 Steps to Kick Imposter Syndrome to the Curb

I still remember the first piece of work I delivered after starting my leadership consulting business. I had signed a contract to facilitate a half-day leadership program with an executive team of nine leaders.

I walked into the room that day—armed with a Masters Degree in Organizational Psychology, years of experience, and ringing endorsements from prior colleagues—thinking “What the [bleep] am I doing here? How did I possibly convince them that paying me to show up today was going to deliver even an ounce value? At what point in the day should I expect to be pelted with rotten tomatoes?”

Have you ever had your own version of that moment? The one in which everyone can see you’re perfectly qualified to be there, to ask for the thing, to win the deal, to be a success ... except you?

This, my friends, is the phenomenon known as imposter syndrome.

RELATED: 7 Simple Tips to Help You Stop Feeling Inadequate

One of my all-time favorite quotes is this wakeup call, often attributed to good ol' Henry Ford:

Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right.

So let’s make sure you believe you can.

What is imposter syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is that icky feeling of dread you get when you’re about to do (or you're even just considering doing) the scary thing—apply for that job, ask for that raise, pitch your service to a new client, join a conversation with the big-wigs at that conference. It's the feeling that you don't deserve the success you've achieved, or that you're somehow fooling everybody into believing you're much more competent than you are.

The term was coined in 1978 by Dr.’s Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes, though the phenomenon certainly existed before that. Some studies show that women and people of color struggle more frequently. But anyone is susceptible to feeling like an imposter.

Wondering whether the thing you struggle with is imposter syndrome? Take this imposter syndrome test developed by Dr. Clance to help you decide.

How to overcome imposter syndrome

The good news is that imposter syndrome isn't terminal, and no pills are required to treat it. I've mostly overcome mine, and I'd love to share my tips to help...

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