Impostor syndrome. The idea that your success is random, and not because of your capability. It was first identified in 1978 by psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes.
When I did my coach training some years ago, it was acute because I did not have an HR background.
Even after many certifications, years of coaching and amazing results, when I first joined a group of coaches, I felt intimidated and thought that I didn’t deserve to be there.
I reflected and listed all the facts. It showed me that the imposter syndrome was all in my head. This realisation changed my mindset and helped me participate with ease from then on.
I was coaching a senior woman executive who was being wooed by a competitor. She was an outstanding performer with the highest ratings. When it came to discussing the compensation package, she was apprehensive about asking for a significant raise because she didn’t think she deserved it. We had a couple of conversations around this and she realised that she was good enough. She just needed to internalise that and act accordingly.
This can happen to the most confident of people. Does it happen to you? What facts can you put down to get rid of this imposter lurking in your head?
Imposter Syndrome
