Conquering the Impostor Within: 8 Powerful Strategies to Overcome Self-Doubt.
Have you ever found yourself presenting to influential stakeholders while an internal voice whispers that they'll discover you're a fraud who knows nothing?
This relentless self-talk has a name—impostor syndrome—and it affects even the most accomplished executives and CEOS. Though knowing you're not alone offers some comfort, that nagging inner critic still emerges at the most critical moments, weaponising self-doubt precisely when confidence matters most.
What if we approached impostor syndrome like we do the seasonal flu—with appropriate preventative measures and targeted remedies? When you get sick, you don't spiral into despair; you visit the pharmacy, take medication, and perhaps even get vaccinated as a preventative step.
The good news? You can create your own personalised "vaccine" and develop preemptive strategies to manage impostor syndrome effectively. Rather than repeatedly treating symptoms, let's address the underlying causes. Just as you wouldn't think twice about taking extra vitamin C to boost your immune system, here are eight powerful tools to build immunity against impostor syndrome:
1. Embrace Being Seen.
When I first began writing, impostor syndrome hit me hard. Who was I to write anything worth reading? Two primary fears drove this feeling: fear of judgment and fear of imperfection.
Eventually, these fears subsided when I identified their root cause—I was afraid of being truly seen. Quoting others' work or sharing established research felt safe because I could hide behind their authority. When I finally decided to share my own experiences and personal truth, I could no longer hide—and this vulnerability is precisely where discomfort peaks.
The more you create intentional "comfort challenges" by putting yourself forward and embracing visibility, the more imposter syndrome naturally dissipates.
Challenge yourself: Write an article for LinkedIn, create that artwork you've been contemplating, speak up in your next meeting, volunteer for a high-visibility project. Embrace being seen until it becomes an integral part of who you are.
2. Give Yourself Validation.
Once you stop hiding, you confront what you've been unconsciously craving all along—external validation and approval. Am I good enough? Was that okay? How did I do? Sometimes feedback isn't immediate, leaving you anxious and wondering if you've somehow sabotaged your credibility.
To effectively dismantle impostor syndrome, you must learn to validate yourself first. How can you expect others to believe in you and draw inspiration from your presence if you don't first believe in yourself?
"Believing in yourself" might be the most overused phrase in personal development—almost cringeworthy—but it remains the foundation of authentic success.
Seth Godin captures this perfectly in his book The Practice:
"Before you are a 'bestselling author,' you're an author, and authors write. Before you are an 'acclaimed entrepreneur,' you're simply someone who is building something. 'I am _______ but they just don't realise it yet' is totally different from 'I'm not _______ because they didn't tell me I was.'"
Choose yourself first, so you're not dependent on external approval to justify your worth. There's nothing wrong with appreciating validation when it comes, but it should be a welcome bonus rather than your permission to feel worthy.
3. Acknowledge Your Wins.
One of my coaching clients recently secured an incredible deal for her company. I was surprised to find myself more excited about her achievement than she was. When I asked if she had celebrated this victory, she replied, "No, not really," then proceeded to explain why this success was "just luck" and "not really a big deal."
This is precisely why impostor syndrome persists—refusing to acknowledge your progress.
When you internalise your wins, no matter how seemingly small, you incorporate that growth into your identity. Acknowledging achievements builds confidence by accumulating evidence of who you're becoming.
Don't simply think, "Okay, I achieved this—next!" Do something tangible—enjoy a special meal, share your success with someone who'll appreciate it, buy yourself a meaningful gift, book a massage, or indulge in whatever feels celebratory to you.
In his book The Gap and The Gain, Benjamin Hardy emphasises the importance of "measuring backwards." A current achievement might not feel momentous in the present, but when viewed from the perspective of your past self, you can recognise how significantly you've evolved. Consider these reflective questions:
What are my wins from the last 90 days?
What are my desired wins for the next 90 days?
What would my 20-year-old self say about my current achievements?
What did I believe three months ago that I no longer believe today?
What do I say no to now that I used to say yes to?
Which things felt essential to me ten years ago that no longer matter to me now?
4. Prepare Thoroughly.
Vitamin C serves as a preventative measure against colds and flu. Similarly, thorough preparation is your best defence against impostor syndrome.
Whether I'm delivering a presentation for the first time or the fiftieth, I prepare. When you have confidence in your knowledge, it automatically boosts your overall confidence.
Recently, a client asked how I made my TEDx talk appear effortless, with no stumbles or verbal fillers. I smiled at the question and revealed that those fourteen minutes of polished delivery required eight weeks of preparation and 33 drafts to achieve.
While you can't control outcomes, you can always control your preparation and how you show up. Even if you're not giving a formal presentation, you can prepare mentally, physically, and emotionally for any challenging situation.
Before an important pitch or difficult conversation, adjust your posture—stand tall with your shoulders back. Consciously choose the emotions you want to bring into the situation. How do you want to feel? What qualities do you want to embody? You can decide to bring enthusiasm, compassion, empathy, confidence, and joy regardless of the unknown outcome.
If you value control (and I know you do), then decide to step into your power and dismiss imposter syndrome before it emerges.
5. Make your mess your message.
It's remarkable how clearly we can see solutions to others' problems while remaining blind to our own.
Imposter syndrome often surfaces because we feel we must be flawless in every area of our lives before we can advise or lead others.
Instead, embrace being what I call a "wounded teacher"—someone who can share knowledge precisely because of their experiences, not despite them. Without your particular journey, including mistakes and setbacks, you wouldn't have the wisdom to serve and contribute effectively.
Reframe your thinking from:
Old paradigm: How can I advise or lead a team when I make mistakes or experience self-doubt? How can I tell others what to do when I have failed at this previously?
New paradigm: I have navigated this territory before and can now guide others more effectively. I know what to expect, and my "failures" provide shortcuts to their success.
In summary, make your mess your message.
6. Thank Your Past.
Imposter syndrome often manifests as feeling like you don't belong or don't deserve your current position. These feelings are frequently triggered by past experiences or aspects of your upbringing.
Can you develop compassion for previous versions of yourself, recognising you're no longer that person? Yes, you made mistakes, but you worked with the knowledge and resources available to you at that time.
Don't hold yourself hostage to a limited present by dwelling in the past and basing future decisions on an outdated version of yourself. You wouldn't continue using an obsolete operating system on your phone; it automatically updates. Similarly, you are constantly updating your internal "software" through new experiences—the difference is that you must manually synchronise these updates.
Imagine pressing an internal auto-sync button that updates you with all the lessons, wisdom, and knowledge from previous versions of yourself. With this integration complete, you can approach challenging situations equipped with everything you need, no longer feeling like an impostor. Ask yourself:
Who would I be without that experience?
What have I learned because of what happened?
How did life happen for me rather than to me?
When you discover these lessons, you can feel genuine gratitude for your past because it has prepared you precisely for this chapter of your life.
7. Don't Underestimate Your Knowledge.
Never discount your skills and expertise. Just because something feels effortless to you doesn't mean others find it equally straightforward. That natural ease is a gift, not something to take for granted.
Consider how long you've been in your current role or industry. Think about the knowledge and experience you've accumulated during that time. If you've been with a company for many years, you're a goldmine of insights regarding culture, operational processes, and navigating both internal and external relationships.
When asked to present or share your knowledge, focus on making a contribution and how people will benefit from your expertise. If the message is valuable, you don't need to be perfect. And if you stumble, laugh at yourself and continue. This isn't an Oscar-worthy performance; it's about shifting your mindset from perfection to contribution.
How can you possibly be an "impostor" when you're the very person others seek out for guidance?
8. Create a Future Self.
"Connection to your Future Self creates purpose and meaning in the present." – Benjamin Hardy.
Apart from New Year's Eve, when was the last time you consciously contemplated who you want to become?
Designing your future self is an intentional choice—the alternative is living by default.
Let's say your dream position is marketing director at a major multinational corporation, or perhaps launching your own business. Both roles would likely require outstanding public speaking abilities.
If your current self maintains a narrative that you're "introverted and terrible at public speaking," you've created a disconnect that prevents you from reaching your aspirations. What does this have to do with impostor syndrome? Everything!
You must begin acting in alignment with your future self rather than playing small because your current self fears judgment. Putting yourself forward for new challenges will feel uncomfortable, but this discomfort is the only pathway to becoming the person you aspire to be.
In other words, you must be willing to temporarily feel like an impostor until you grow comfortable with new skills. Continue this process, and you'll be amazed at how quickly you achieve the goals of your future self.
When you eventually arrive at your desired position, you'll no longer feel undeserving because you've practised being this version of yourself so many times that it's simply become who you are.
Managing Rather Than Eliminating.
Just as with the flu, even after vaccination, you might still occasionally get sick, but you'll recover more quickly.
Similarly, imposter syndrome may still occasionally emerge, but it won't feel as threatening or overwhelming. It's not a permanent condition.
The ultimate solution isn't eliminating imposter syndrome entirely, but recognising it for what it is when it appears, rather than accepting the false narrative that you don't deserve your success or position.
Here's to prevention being better than cure,
Warm wishes,
Lori