Peak Performers by Tiffany Uman

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How imposter syndrome drives success

November 4, 2024

Thank you for joining my Peak Performers newsletter! Every Monday, we cover a crucial topic along with actionable tips to accelerate your career. Let's dive in!

Contrary to what you may believe, imposter syndrome is the catalyst to ascend in your career.

It often comes up when you're stepping into a new role or level of growth, and your inner voice suggests that you're not cut out for this or that you'll be 'found out'.

That said, embracing imposter syndrome is a fundamental prerequisite to succeed as it prevents you from playing it safe and allows you to unleash what you're truly capable of achieving.

While at L'Oréal, I experienced a defining moment in which I was without an immediate boss for over 6 months. I felt anxious and disoriented. Overnight, I was suddenly expected to step up and lead my entire marketing team. Imposter syndrome hit me in the face like a ton of bricks.

Instead of allowing it to consume me, I challenged myself to view this as the fuel I needed to level up. In doing so, I became a go-to-expert on my team and led the brand's most successful launches that year. Through my actions, I demonstrated the needed leadership internal decision makers were seeking and that opportunity was the spark that allowed my next promotion to unfold in record time.

As peak performers, we do not choose the path of least resistance. Rather, we see imposter syndrome as a gateway to unlock the person we're truly meant to be.

Here's how.

The power of a growth mindset

Your mindset will either serve as your biggest asset or liability in your career, and imposter syndrome can play into the latter if you allow it to. It creates a persistent feeling of inadequacy despite clear evidence of your competence. Interestingly, this phenomenon primarily affects high-achievers as it stems from setting exceptionally high standards, which initiate the worry of falling short or failing.

Here's the kicker: imposter syndrome is 100% natural to feel. The key is to harness your perspective from inadequacy towards growth. Here's 3 guiding questions that will help bring this out of you:

→ "Why do I feel unable to take on this next step successfully?"

• This question will reframe self-doubt into self-validation, highlighting that you're more capable than you realize. Keep track of your wins and refer back to past accomplishments that led you to this stage of your career.

→ "What's 1 moment in my career that was initially really hard for me but where I ultimately succeeded?"

• This reflection will serve as evidence that you can overcome hardship having done so in the past. List out factors that helped you push through that moment of difficulty and remind yourself that you still possess the same traits to overcome adversity again (and again).

→ "How do I envision this role ideally?"

• This visualization technique will assess your level of readiness, and more specifically, push you to proactively anticipate how to set yourself up for success. Don't wait for things to happen. Rather, manifest your desired outcome by becoming the type of person you want to be in this role.

Imposter syndrome is often a result of negative self-talk so you must shift your internal dialogue towards one that motivates you to reach new heights.

3 ways to turn imposter syndrome into your career catalyst

1/ Redefine failure

Fear of failure is often the primary trigger of imposter syndrome stemming from:

• Embarrassment
• Disappointing others
• Losing something perceived as valuable or important

That said, your failures are far from dead-ends. They are simply detours you encounter as you grow in your career. So instead of viewing mistakes and failures as pure disappointments, position them as feedback loops to bring out your best self.

Here's 3 steps to strengthen your confidence when imposter syndrome strikes from a fear of failure:

→ Set realistic goals: Break your larger goals into smaller, achievable steps. Doing so increases the probability of delivering on these objectives successfully and reduces the fear of failure. This is particularly important in a new role to secure key wins under your belt quickly, without getting into analysis paralysis.

[Check out my recent newsletter on My 3 strategies to set effective goals]

→ Visualize your success: Use positive visualization techniques to envision your possibilities. I always like to say "what's the worst that can really happen?". Remember, we often make things out to be far worse in our minds than in reality and taking that first step is half the battle.

→ Replace expectations with gratitude: By making this shift, you start valuing your efforts and progress as meaningful steps forward. It also helps you move past feelings of inadequacy because your worth isn’t tied to achieving perfect outcomes, but rather to the resilience and learning needed to level up plus the journey to get you there. Start replacing "I have to do [X]" with "I get to do [X]" and watch how you show up differently in taking on new challenges.

2/ Rewrite your narrative

What story are you telling yourself about your abilities, competencies and self-worth?

• "I'm not good enough."
• "I'm not ready for this."
• "Who do I think I am taking this on?"

This type of narrative is not only counter-productive, it cripples your growth potential. Do not confuse inexperience with inability. Just because you haven't done something yet, doesn't mean you're not capable of doing it really well.

Here's 4 ways you can rewrite your narrative to one that serves you best:

→ Acknowledge and normalize your feelings: When self-doubt arises, remind yourself that imposter syndrome is a common experience, even amongst senior leaders. Say to yourself, “This is a normal part of growth,” which can reduce the intensity of those feelings and help you move forward with perspective and a sense of self-control.

→ Create your 'cheer' folder: This can be done in a folder in your inbox or somewhere you can easily access where you save positive feedback, completed projects, or emails praising your work. Reviewing these regularly can counter negative self-talk and remind you of your current and past accomplishments, reinforcing your confidence over time. Pro tip: It comes in handy for career path conversations too as you can easily reference feedback that echoes your work ethic.

→ Seek feedback and act on it: Ask a trusted colleague or mentor for constructive feedback to gain an objective perspective on your strengths and areas for growth. This process can help you see yourself more clearly, focus on improvement, and realize that imposter feelings are often exaggerated.

→ Speak up authentically in meetings: When you feel hesitant to share your ideas, remind yourself that your unique perspective adds value. Start small by contributing 1 thought in each meeting. The more you share, the more you’ll build confidence and remind yourself that your voice matters and holds weight. Pro tip: Asking follow-up questions is an easy way to get started when interjecting in meetings. It shows genuine interest in others while removing some pressure to contribute new thoughts right away. For example, "That's a really interesting insight. Can you share more on [X]?".

3/ Embrace vulnerability

Over the past year, I've interviewed dozens of C-level executives and VPs from companies like Samsung, Walmart, Microsoft, Google and more. We spoke about their rise to leadership and the obstacles faced along the way.

Despite their amazing success and achievements, they all admitted to facing imposter syndrome at one point or another, and shared how being vulnerable was key in moving through it.

Here's 4 of my biggest takeaways from those conversations on how to embrace vulnerability:

→ Foster authentic connections: Showing your "raw truth" and opening yourself to others encourages them to reciprocate in the same way. It's not a sign of weakness, but rather strength. This in turn fosters more meaningful relationships based on shared trust and empathy with your team.

→ Acknowledge imperfections: Sharing your own vulnerabilities allows you to free yourself from the unrealistic expectation to always have to excel. It's actually not even sustainable to be 'on' all the time. By showing that you don't always have all the answers, or that you can falter and bounce back, it inspires others to know that it's acceptable for them too.

→ Encourage learning: Being vulnerable encourages you to ask questions, seek help and admit when you face a setback. It also allows you to focus on areas in which you can improve, but also hone in on your areas of strength in times of growth and change. What got you here won't get you there so lean into that.

→ Build resilience: Openly sharing your fears and insecurities strengthens character, both for you and with those you work with. You grow through what you go through and it ultimately comes down to how you show up in these moments. Do you rise above or do you let it stop you in your tracks? You have the power to decide which side you want to be on so choose wisely.

How will you use imposter syndrome to drive your success?

Imposter syndrome, when viewed as a driving force rather than a hindrance, will unlock your fullest career potential. Harness it to bring out your best self, crush your goals and reach new levels of fulfilment.

You've got this!

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This week's mission is grounded in actionable steps to turn imposter syndrome into your career catalyst. Dedicate uninterrupted time to reflect and record yourself answering the questions below.

1/ What's your current definition of failure?

• How would you now approach this perspective based on the strategies shared above? Write this down and keep it somewhere visual as a daily reminder.

2/ What's 1 narrative you currently tell yourself that lowers your confidence and feeds into your imposter syndrome?

• Is this narrative grounded in reality (i.e. something that has happened in the past) or stemming from fear/worry of what may go wrong or where you'll fall short?
• What's 1 counter-story from your past track record that proves you'll deliver successfully in this next step of your career?

3/ What's 1 area that makes you feel particularly vulnerable right now?

• Who are 3 people that you can share this story with to further strengthen a connection and mutual understanding of one another, while contributing towards your growth goals?

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