Are you an imposter, or just in the spotlight?

Are people telling you you're doing well? Then why don't you believe them?

I frequently work with brilliant, capable, successful people for whom this is an issue.

Usually, it's because they're comparing their backstage to someone else's front of house. They see each of their own missteps, every moment they faked confidence, every wobble or near-miss. But when we look at our peers, we only get to see the polished performance - their wins, their certainty, their competence and never the panic, the self-doubt, the moments they barely held it together.

They think that their confidence isn’t “perfect”, therefore they must be horrible at their job.

I can tell you that after nearly 20 years of working with people as their coach, almost everyone falls into this trap from time to time. And the ones that never do... are the problem!

The cost to you, though, isn't just discomfort, it's diminished impact while you hold back, deflect credit, stay quiet... and you can’t thrive from there. So, start paying attention to the evidence. Remind yourself that everyone has a backstage, and it’s just as messy as yours.

If this resonates and you’d like to explore coaching on it, get in touch, or share with someone you think could benefit.

Until next week,

Madeleine

I help accomplished professionals untangle difficult career questions so they can thrive in work and life.

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