Elite Individuals Often Experience Imposter Syndrome as Well
In the world of high-achievers, a common feeling of inadequacy, self-doubt, and fear of being exposed as a fraud known as impostor syndrome can rear its head. Surprisingly, this syndrome can become more prevalent as one rises in their career, rather than disappearing with success.
Jaide Massin, the founder of Soar Executive Coaching, acknowledges this issue and offers a solution. "Many individuals, even the most brilliant, accomplished, and respected, feel like they're just holding it together behind the scenes," she says.
Soar Executive Coaching helps leaders grow with clarity, courage, and impact. The goal is not to outrun impostor syndrome, but to stop giving it so much power.
To overcome impostor syndrome in leadership roles, consider these evidence-based strategies:
- Acknowledge and name your feelings: Recognizing feelings of self-doubt, fear of exposure, or attributing success to luck rather than skill is the first step to moving beyond them.
- Reframe your negative self-talk: Focusing on facts can help combat impostor syndrome. Remind yourself of your skills, experience, achievements, and the qualifications that earned you your leadership role. Use positive affirmations to ground your self-perception in reality.
- Talk openly with trusted colleagues, mentors, or coaches: Sharing your feelings normalizes the experience, reduces isolation, and can provide constructive strategies to combat impostor thoughts.
- Document your achievements rigorously: Keep a record of your education, skills, completed projects, feedback, awards, and measurable contributions. Reviewing this tangible evidence helps reinforce your competence and counters irrational self-doubt.
- Clarify your leadership goals and values: Ensure you set standards that are relevant to your current role and context, rather than outdated or externally imposed benchmarks. This alignment helps reduce impostor feelings rooted in unrealistic expectations.
- Engage in mind-body practices: Breathwork, meditation, or emotional freedom techniques can address deeply rooted fears and stress reactions that reinforce impostor syndrome. Integrating mental and physical approaches can create lasting confidence.
- Shift from a “hustle” mindset to one of alignment and efficiency: Aim to work smarter, not harder, reducing burnout and enhancing sustainable leadership effectiveness.
- Surround yourself with expansive, supportive thinkers: Mastermind groups, mentorships, or other supportive networks can normalize success and offer encouragement and perspective to help rewire limiting subconscious beliefs.
Together, these steps create a multi-layered approach—mental reframing, relational support, operational tracking, and holistic wellbeing—that leaders can use to rise above impostor syndrome and lead with confidence.
It's essential to remember that one does not have to feel like they belong before leading boldly, speaking up, or going for the next level. Confidence does not come from always feeling 100% sure, but from remembering evidence when doubt arises.
Normalizing impostor syndrome by talking about it and asking others about their experiences can build trust, self-awareness, and resilience. To quiet impostor syndrome and reclaim one's confidence, one should stop discounting what comes naturally and reconnect with what it took to get where they are.
One already belongs and is already ready, and impostor syndrome does not negate this fact. Asking oneself questions like "What results have I delivered?" and "Where have I grown over the past year?" can provide evidence against impostor syndrome.
In a time of massive transition, even seasoned professionals may feel off-balance. However, impostor syndrome is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of growth and usually appears at the edge of one's comfort zone.
The goal is not to outgrow impostor syndrome, but to outgrow the hold it has on one. As an executive coach, Jaide Massin has observed that many individuals don't magically become someone new when they "make it." They are still the same person all the way through. Recognizing this can help leaders navigate the challenges of impostor syndrome and lead with confidence.
- Jaide Massin, a proponent of personal growth and mental health, emphasizes that even the most successful individuals may struggle with impostor syndrome.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, Soar Executive Coaching, founded by Jaide Massin, focuses on providing solutions to help leaders overcome impostor syndrome by promoting self-awareness, positive affirmations, and holistic wellbeing.
- Since impostor syndrome is often linked to feelings of inadequacy, Jaide Massin suggests educating oneself through self-development and continuing education to regain confidence and combat self-doubt.
