The Key to Managing Imposter Syndrome
Last week I completed my I to the 4th Power program with a group of 50 Black/African American and LatinX leaders. Those terms don’t even begin to express the group’s diversity of experience, approach, and style. It was an amazing class, once again.
We had fun, but it was also serious work. And one challenge that lives within any work that is designed to grow you as a leader is this: How do you distinguish between the feedback that can grow you, and feedback that may have unconscious bias lurking?
It reminded me of the wonderful Clarity Conversation Teresa Sande and I had a while back, which I am reposting here.
In “Find Your Fierce,” Teresa talks about the importance of awareness.
If we don’t know about Imposter Syndrome, we can’t even begin to manage it.
We accept the things we hear. And maybe even internalize them.
And when that happens, it impacts self-esteem. Then well-being, engagement, and effectiveness.
It always breaks my heart when talented people don’t get how much they bring to the table.
According to Teresa:
We had fun, but it was also serious work. And one challenge that lives within any work that is designed to grow you as a leader is this: How do you distinguish between the feedback that can grow you, and feedback that may have unconscious bias lurking?
It reminded me of the wonderful Clarity Conversation Teresa Sande and I had a while back, which I am reposting here.
In “Find Your Fierce,” Teresa talks about the importance of awareness.
If we don’t know about Imposter Syndrome, we can’t even begin to manage it.
We accept the things we hear. And maybe even internalize them.
And when that happens, it impacts self-esteem. Then well-being, engagement, and effectiveness.
It always breaks my heart when talented people don’t get how much they bring to the table.
According to Teresa:
- Step one is to identify where the Imposter Syndrome is present in your thinking, especially where you may not be aware of it.
- Step two is to ask yourself, “Is what I am thinking really true?”
- Then, learn habits and actions you can take to mitigate the imposter syndrome over the long term, so you are less vulnerable to it.
Have a listen. And thank you Teresa for the important work you do!
My best,
Claire
My best,
Claire