Leadership Imposter Syndrome Is Not The End For Leaders

Advice from an executive coach on how to overcome your leadership imposter syndrome

Leadership imposter syndrome is a concept that many business leaders and high-level executives are familiar with, but perhaps not fully aware of. While it is an increasingly common experience, it remains an under-researched phenomenon among leaders.

It might manifest differently in different leaders, but it all boils down to leaders feeling like are undeserving of their position despite their stellar performance on the job.

As an executive coach based in Singapore, I have seen many examples just within our local context, of leaders who end up throwing in their resignation or cutting short their leadership journey simply because they think it is impossible to continue leading a team.

When are leaders most vulnerable to leadership imposter syndrome?

Leadership imposter syndrome is a phenomenon that can affect any level of leadership. But it tends to arise most acutely during times of major change.

For high-level executives, these changes can include a strategic shift in the company's direction, a new CEO, a sudden promotion, or taking on a different portfolio beyond their area of expertise. As leaders assume new roles and responsibilities, they can feel unprepared for and uncomfortable with the challenges that await them and yet are left with no choice but to move ahead.

Moving up the corporate ladder also means that there are lesser people that whom leaders feel safe expressing their struggles and challenges to. This might lead them to keep these feelings bottled inside them until it becomes too much for them to bear.

How does executive coaching help leaders deal with leadership imposter syndrome?

Having established an executive coaching program over the past decade, I have the firm belief that leadership imposter syndrome does not mean it’s the end for leaders. Sometimes, what is really required is the external help of an executive coach to give an alternate viewpoint and to be a sounding board.

And because one of my core values as an executive coach is to give value to others, here are some words of advice (aka tips) that I give the leaders I coach in my executive coaching program:

Get to the root of your fears

To manage imposter syndrome as a leader, getting to the root of your fear is a good place to start. This means figuring out what's causing you to feel like an imposter in the first place.

This could include anything from a lack of knowledge or skills in certain areas, or even personal doubts about their capabilities and leadership competencies. By addressing these underlying issues rather than simply trying to suppress them, leaders can gain greater clarity around the source of their fear and make strategic decisions that can help them tackle those underlying issues.

Revisit your past for inspiration

Keep a record of past successes and breakthroughs that can give you motivation in times when you feel overwhelmed. Achieving any small victory or milestone can help you to remember and recognise the progress you’ve made and regain confidence in your level of competency.

Positive reinforcement like this can be beneficial for managing the underlying feelings that come with leadership imposter syndrome.

Start small

Don't try to do everything at once.

You might feel like the entire world is on your shoulders, but it's not. You have an entire team of people behind you who can help you out! Don't be afraid to voice out and delegate where necessary. Just tackle each small task one at a time.

If imposter syndrome is affecting productivity, then focus on what can be done today/this week/this month and work your way from there — great things are accomplished with small consistent steps!

Embrace it

Having leadership imposter syndrome does not make you abnormal and it certainly does not disqualify you as a leader.

In fact, it is a natural instinct. If anything, it makes you more relatable as a leader. The only difference is that you need to learn how to manage the associated emotions that come along with it before these emotions end up controlling you.

So instead of fighting it, embrace it!

Will you be limited by it?

Don’t let leadership imposter syndrome mark the end of your leadership journey. Let it be the beginning of a new chapter of your leadership development.

You can start this in a simple step by connecting with an executive coach you’re comfortable with (it doesn’t even have to be me) — but my door is always open.

Hit me up and start your executive coaching journey with me now!