How to Handle Imposter Syndrome When You Step Into Leadership
When I stepped into my first leadership role, I didn’t feel powerful. I felt scared.
I kept waiting for someone to realize I had no idea what I was doing.
I have since learned that this feeling is far more common than anyone admits, including among people who look completely certain from the outside.
What the feeling is not telling you
That voice that says you don’t belong in the role is easy to take as a verdict. It sounds like information.
But it isn’t a sign that you’re not qualified. It means you care. It means you’re stretching into something bigger than what you’ve done before.
Researchers have been describing this for decades. In the late 1970s, psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes observed that people can feel like frauds “despite outstanding academic and professional accomplishments.” They also noted that it appeared to be particularly prevalent and intense among high achieving women.
The cycle usually starts when something new arrives, whether it’s a new assignment, a new job, or a new opportunity. It happens even when the opportunity is a positive one.
How it shows up
The common reactions are procrastination and overpreparation. I’m more inclined toward the second. My mind spins through every problem and scenario that could come up in a new situation.
I think that’s partly my personality. It’s also partly an instinct that grew stronger once I became a mother. Either way, the spinning rarely makes me more ready. It mostly makes me more tired.
What actually helps you handle imposter syndrome
What I’m describing is often called imposter syndrome, and these are the things that have helped me handle it. The only way through it is to keep showing up, get support, and talk to people who remind you what you’re capable of.
For me, that has meant leaning on mentors. They help me focus on practical solutions instead of a million “what ifs.” They’ve been in situations like the one I’m about to face, or very similar ones, and they help me talk through the most probable outcomes. That leaves me with a plan for the problem in front of me instead of a list of fears.
Chris Roe’s mentorship helped build my confidence as a public speaker. Because of it, I stood on stage at two conferences in one year, a milestone that felt almost impossible not long before.
I gain confidence through the confidence and experience of the people around me. That’s my antidote.
If you’re in a new role right now
The feeling doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re doing something new, and that takes guts.
Find the people who have already been where you’re standing. Ask them what they were afraid of, and what turned out to matter. Let them remind you what you’re capable of on the days you can’t see it yourself.
You’re not a fraud. You’re just doing something you haven’t done before.
FAQs
What is imposter syndrome?
Imposter syndrome is the persistent feeling that you don’t belong or aren’t qualified, often paired with a fear that others will eventually discover you’re a fraud. It can happen even to people with strong track records, and it’s far more common than most people admit, including among those who look completely confident from the outside.
Is it normal to feel like an imposter in a new leadership role?
Yes. Stepping into leadership often brings the feeling that someone will realize you don’t know what you’re doing. That feeling isn’t a sign you’re unqualified. It usually means you care and that you’re stretching into something bigger than what you’ve done before.
Where does the term imposter syndrome come from?
In the late 1970s, psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes described people who felt like frauds despite strong academic and professional accomplishments. They noted it appeared to be particularly prevalent and intense among high-achieving women.
What triggers imposter syndrome?
It often starts when something new arrives, such as a new assignment, job, or opportunity. It can show up even when the change is positive, like a promotion or a chance to lead.
How does imposter syndrome show up?
Two common reactions are procrastination and overpreparation. Overpreparing can mean spinning through every possible problem and scenario before a new situation, which rarely makes you more ready and mostly makes you more tired.
How do you handle imposter syndrome as a new leader?
Keep showing up, get support, and talk to people who remind you what you’re capable of. Mentors can be especially helpful because they’ve faced similar situations and can help you focus on likely outcomes and practical solutions instead of a long list of “what ifs.”
How can a mentor help with imposter syndrome?
A mentor who has been where you’re standing can share what they were afraid of and what turned out to matter. Their experience and confidence can help you build your own, and they can remind you what you’re capable of on the days you can’t see it yourself.
Comments