Am I An Impostor?
Last week, I reconnected with a former colleague transitioning from a successful career in business to becoming a business coach. He sought advice on making the transition as smooth as possible.
A recurring theme in our conversation was the impact the impostor syndrome was having on launching his coaching business. He felt unprepared, lacking the frameworks and tools necessary to establish his credibility as a coach.
I empathized, sharing that I, too, suffered from the impostor syndrome when I began my coaching career. Throughout my coaching journey, for no obvious reason, I will start worrying about whether I am providing real value to my clients and feared they will ask me a question that will cause me to doubt myself.
In our conversation I shared three strategies that helped me manage the imposter syndrome:
- Embrace the feelings! – I take the time to listen & recognize the feelings of inadequacy. Giving these feelings a voice helps me understand them and reduces their power over me.
- Surround myself with success – Sometimes I forget my true worth. To remind myself of the value I bring to my clients, I surround myself with reminders of my successes such as positive feedback, awards, and notes of encouragement.
- Keep a gratitude journal – Writing down what I am grateful for in both my personal and business life grounds me. This practice shifts my focus to the positive aspects of my journey and provides a balanced perspective about my life & business.
The bottom line is we will all face challenges that can damage our self-confidence. Succumbing to these challenges makes the journey to create the business + life to which we truly aspire a steep uphill battle. By recognizing and embracing our unique skills and abilities, we will not only be able to deal with the imposter syndrome but also thrive in our business + personal lives.