What Is Imposter Syndrome and How Can You Overcome It?

What is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is that ever-present feeling of self-doubt and persistent thoughts of inadequacy, despite your evident success and accomplishments. It's your mind concocting fear-based stories about how incapable you are—when in reality, you are more than good enough.
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It often affects high achievers, making them believe that they are not as competent as others perceive them to be. This invisible battle we face can significantly impact both our personal and professional life, leading to stress, anxiety, and a fear of somehow being “found out” for not having what it takes to be successful in our role, project or career.

Signs and Symptoms of Imposter Syndrome

Many people who experience imposter syndrome share common thought patterns, including:

• Feeling less than, even in the face of past successes
• Attributing accomplishments to "luck" rather than skill or effort
• Constantly fearing that others will discover they are not as competent as they appear
• Setting unrealistic expectations and feeling crushed when they are not met

Despite external validation, they struggle to internalize their achievements, leading to ongoing self-doubt and stress.

Root Causes of Imposter Syndrome

I believe understanding the root cause of imposter syndrome can help in overcoming it. Some common contributing factors I see in the women I coach and mentor include:

• Perfectionism: The belief that anything less than perfection is failure.
• Professional fears: Fear of criticism and feedback, fear of letting someone down or fear of letting themsleves down
• High Expectations: Personal or external pressures to always perform at the highest level
• Comparisons to Others: Feeling inadequate when comparing oneself to seemingly confident and successful peers
• Early Life Experiences: Upbringing and societal conditioning that emphasizes the need to prove their worth

Strategies to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

While imposter syndrome can feel very overwhelming to experience, there are actionable strategies you can start using today to regain your confidence and shift self-belief.

​These are the exact tools I teach my private coaching clients—the ones that lead to the greatest success:

1. Recognize and Reframe Negative Self-Talk Challenge your inner critic by questioning its validity. Replace self-doubt with positive language and affirmations, make a list of past successes and reminder yourself of your hard and achievements. "I deserve to be here, I am capable".
2. Focus on Facts, Not Feelings When self-doubt creeps in, look at objective evidence of your abilities. Keep a journal of accomplishments and positive feedback to remind yourself of your worth.
3. Seek Support from Mentors or Trusted Peers Open up to someone you trust about your feelings of imposter syndrome. A fresh perspective can help ground your thinking and provide encouragement.
4. Accept Positive Feedback Without Deflection Instead of responding with “Yes, but…” when praised, try “Yes, and thank you.” Internalize compliments as genuine reflections of your abilities.
5. Observe and Challenge Negative Thoughts with External Evidence Write down self-limiting beliefs and contrast them with real-world evidence. Shift focus from perceived shortcomings to actual achievements.​

Imposter syndrome is more common than many realize, but it doesn’t have to define your experience long term. By implementing these strategies, you can shift from self-doubt to self-belief and embrace your accomplishments with confidence.
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If you resonate with this topic and want to build greater self-confidence, this week I am launching a brand new 4-session coaching program, specifically for women wanting to release imposter syndrome and rebuild their confidence.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS NEW PROGRAM!

​If you're ready to silence imposter syndrome and elevate your confidence and success this year - I would be happy to share more information with you. You can email me directly at [email protected].

Janel Briggs
Confidence & Mindset Coach
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