10 signs you could be experiencing professional and executive imposter syndrome Whether you’re an ambitious professional, an executive, role model or leader, imposter syndrome and self-doubt can show up and impact your career and your life in many ways and ultimately it can prevent you from reaching, realising, and even enjoying and embracing your full personal and professional potential.
Here are 10 signs you might be experiencing imposter syndrome
1. You lack the confidence and trust within yourself and your abilities.
This can show up when you find it difficult to make changes, to take opportunities, to try new experiences, to progress within your career or personal life and to take action.
2. Second- guessing yourself and your decisions
Perhaps you second guess yourself and your decisions which can lead to distrust and lack of confidence within others.
3. Proving your worth
Imposter syndrome and self-doubt can trigger feelings of needing to prove yourself , your value and worth. The ways you might do this include overcompensating, overworking, being a perfectionist and procrastinating. However, these experiences can all lead to feelings of burn-out, overwhelm, and stress. You may even find it difficult to start or finish projects.
4. Fear of rejection, judgment, failure and scrutiny
Do you fear rejection, failure, setbacks, and judgment? You may feel the heavy burden and pressures of fulfilling expectations or perhaps you feel as though you’re playing a role?
5. You undervalue yourself and undermine your abilities
You might undermine your abilities and undervalue yourself in different ways i.e., by discounting your abilities, the way in which you communicate and present yourself, your costs, salary, the way you dress etc.
6. Fulfilling and Maintaining High Expectations
Perhaps you feel the heavy burden of responsibility and resilience and so you find it difficult to ask for feedback, help and to delegate. However, these experience can all affect team communication, low morale and confidence.
7. Discounting Your Right To Success
Embracing and celebrating your right to success is difficult. You may find yourself saying and believing you have been ‘just lucky’, ‘it was a fluke’, ‘it was someone else’s hard work’ or you may feel as though you’re not talented or skilled as everyone else believes you to be.
8. Fear of Exposure
You may feel undeserving of success and so you may find it difficult to feel exposed, seen and heard. Or perhaps you protect yourself by metaphorically hiding behind a mask of confidence and resilience. However deep down you might secretly be feeling vulnerable and not good enough.
9. You Compare Yourself To Others
Do you compare yourself to other colleagues, peers or leaders because you don’t feel good enough? Perhaps establishing your own identity is difficult? Or perhaps you are taking over a position from another person who had enjoyed success with their established style.
10. You Hold Yourself Back
You may find it difficult to embrace career progression, to step into a new role or leadership role for fear that you are not good enough.
Next Steps
If you experience imposter syndrome and you would like to feel confident and deserving of your right to success within either your career or personal life, then why not connect with me to find out how you can feel empowered and confident!
