Tag Believing in Yourself

How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

Steve Keating Leave a comment

I will never forget my first promotion to a leadership position. I was a salesperson for a beverage company. I reported to a district manager who reported to a regional manager who reported to a general manager.

I was a very, very good salesperson. Still, I was very nervous when one Friday afternoon I was called into the President’s office for a “chat.” People at my level were not asked to chat with the President, so I assumed I wasn’t likely to enjoy the conversation.

I recently had a disagreement with my district manager over the placement of a display, and while I didn’t think it was a big deal, I figured that might be what the “chat” was about.

But almost as soon as I sat down, I realized the President had something completely different on his mind. He wanted to talk about a promotion for me. A big, big promotion. Not to a district manager spot, not even to a regional manager position. He was asking me to move directly into the general sales manager role.

To say I was dumbfounded would be an understatement. I was totally shocked. I asked for the weekend to consider it, and he agreed. After considering the pluses and minuses, I decided I had to accept. So, on Monday morning, I was back in the President’s office accepting the job.

He was very happy with my decision and said he wanted to announce it to the company immediately. But first, he had to fire the current general manager.

When considering the pluses and minuses, it never for a moment dawned on me that there was already a general manager in place. That, as it turned out, was just one of the many things I hadn’t thought about.

I quickly realized that I had no idea what the hell I was doing. Like most newly minted managers with no formal leadership training, I stumbled and fumbled my way around the position. What I was feeling wasn’t called imposter syndrome at the time, but I absolutely felt like an imposter.

I eventually left that role and returned to sales at another company. I was back in my comfort zone. I was committed to seeking another leadership role, but only after I was truly prepared for it. There would be no more imposter syndrome for me.

Overcoming imposter syndrome as a leader requires a combination of self-awareness, mindset shifts, and practical strategies. I did it, and so can you. Here’s a guide to help.

Recognize the Feeling

Acknowledge the Syndrome: Understand that imposter syndrome is common among high achievers, especially leaders who are constantly pushing boundaries.

Realize You’re Not Alone: Many successful leaders, including CEOs and innovators, have felt the same way. Knowing this can ease self-doubt.

2. Challenge Negative Thoughts

Identify Self-Doubt: Write down the specific thoughts or beliefs that make you feel like an imposter.

Reframe Your Thinking: Replace negative thoughts with evidence-based affirmations. For example, instead of thinking, “I don’t deserve this role,” remind yourself of past achievements and qualifications.

3. Focus on Your Strengths

Recognize Your Unique Value: List your strengths, skills, and accomplishments. Reflect on how these contribute to your leadership role.

Leverage Feedback: Use positive feedback from peers and team members as validation of your competence.

4. Separate Feelings from Facts

Acknowledge Emotions: Feeling less than capable doesn’t mean you are. Remind yourself that emotions aren’t always aligned with reality.

Focus on Results: Concentrate on what you’ve achieved rather than how you feel about your performance.

5. Shift the Focus from Perfection to Growth

Embrace Imperfection: Understand that leadership doesn’t require perfection. Mistakes are a part of growth.

Celebrate Progress: Reflect on how far you’ve come and the impact you’ve made, no matter how small.

6. Develop a Growth Mindset

View Leadership as a Journey: Accept that you are continuously learning and evolving as a leader.

Seek Development Opportunities: Attend workshops, read leadership books, or find mentors to enhance your skills and confidence.

7. Build a Support System

Talk to Trusted Peers or Mentors: Share your feelings with someone who understands leadership challenges.

Engage in Networking: Surround yourself with supportive and inspiring individuals who can affirm your leadership abilities.

8. Focus on Impact Over Self

Concentrate on Helping Others: Shift your attention from “Am I good enough?” to “How can I best serve my team?”

Lead with Purpose: When your actions align with your values and goals, self-doubt diminishes.

One of the absolutely most important keys to success, in any endeavor, is to believe in yourself. Imposter syndrome blocks self-belief. The sooner you realize you “got this,” the sooner you’re likely to excel at whatever you’re doing.

One-Time
Monthly
Yearly

Consider supporting my efforts with a donation!

Hey everyone, I’m passionate about sharing insights on life and leadership through my blog. If you’ve found value in my posts and wish to see more content like this, please consider making a donation. Every little bit helps in continuing to provide quality guidance and inspiration.

But whether you can offer support or not, I’ll continue to try and write a blog that gives back, informs and sometimes even entertains. I hope you enjoy it!

Thanks for your support!

Make a monthly donation

Make a yearly donation

Choose an amount

$5.00
$15.00
$100.00
$5.00
$15.00
$100.00
$5.00
$15.00
$100.00

Or enter a custom amount

$

Your contribution is appreciated.

Your contribution is appreciated.

Your contribution is appreciated.

DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearly

Who to Believe

Steve Keating 2 Comments

It’s hard to know what to believe these days. You can find “facts” to support pretty much anything you want to believe. It’s just as hard to know who to believe. People who seem to be thinking and talking logically one day appear to be completely off the rails the next. 

But I do have one solid recommendation on who to believe that you can take to the bank…maybe even literally. 

That recommendation is you. Yes, I wholeheartedly recommend that you believe in you. The most successful people, regardless of their walk of life, have that one thing in common. They believe in themselves. 

Believing in yourself changes everything about your life. You’ll not only see things differently but the things you see will actually be different. You’ll be less judgmental of other people because your focus will be on your life and what you want to accomplish. You’ll no longer feel the need to measure yourself against other people because you know, without a doubt, that you have what it takes to succeed.

You’ll discover that you do in fact have enough time. The old excuse about not having time falls away when your priorities are in order. You no longer waste time, you invest it. You invest it in accomplishing what’s best for you and those you care for. The activities a less confident you did with regularity to avoid taking risks will no longer be a part of your day. A self-confident you becomes a productivity monster accomplishing more in a day than most people do in a month. Yes, that is the real you when you believe in yourself!

Self-confident people attract other people and you very well may inspire other people to believe in themselves. Think about people who inspire you. You not only can be like them…you ARE like them, you only need to believe it. 

When you believe in yourself you become immune to the unjust criticism of others. You are able to accept the comments and decide for yourself if there is anything helpful to consider. Then you are free to use whatever part of the criticism you feel helps you succeed. When you believe in yourself all criticism becomes constructive, no matter how it was intended. 

Believing in yourself doesn’t eliminate life’s ups and downs. It does however make them a ton easier to deal with. You KNOW you will overcome whatever obstacles appear in your way. You are certain of it, there are no doubts, only possible solutions to consider. 

But here’s the best part…every single word I’ve written is 100% true for every single person reading this. This post isn’t about someone else, it’s about you!

I believe it, I believe it with all my heart. All you need to do is believe it too. Once you believe it, really really believe it, every obstacle becomes smaller, every possibility becomes clearer. You begin to live a life of purpose, on purpose. You begin to live the life you deserve.

Believe! 

The Enemy Within a Me

Steve Keating 7 Comments

People get frustrated with me when I tell them that it’s very likely the greatest obstacle to success they face is themselves. 

They tell me I don’t understand, but I do. They tell me I don’t know, but I do. They tell me I don’t know how tough it can be “out there,” but I do. 

I also know that in any situation where I’ve struggled to advance or accomplish a goal my greatest enemy was within me. That enemy slowed down my progress. My doubts about my own abilities prevented me from moving forward. Those doubts opened the door to my true enemy which was fear of failure. 

Despite the compliments I get about my speaking ability, the things I write and other stuff I do, I know this undeniable truth about myself…overall I’m a pretty average person. I don’t say that about myself in a bad way, in fact my “averageness” is one of my greatest strengths. It helps me relate to the people I’m trying to help. 

That’s why I can say with a high degree of confidence, I do understand, I do know. 

I also know my main enemy is within a me! 

I know the best way for me to block that enemy is to believe in myself. People who believe in themselves are pretty darn near impossible to stop. When YOU believe in yourself you are pretty much unstoppable.

Believing in yourself leaves no room for doubt. Without doubt to open the door fear has no way into your head. 

Any battle is halfway won when when your enemy within is kept away. Obstacles become opportunities when the enemy within you can’t mess with your head. 

So the next time doubt starts to creep into your thoughts you need to immediately ask yourself,  “is this an actual problem, or is this the enemy within a me just tearing down my confidence?”

If you’re average like me, and most of you are, (see, that’s how “average” works) you’ll know it’s the enemy within. You should also know you can defeat it by ignoring it. I know that if you believe in yourself you will be unstoppable. 

I know that about you cause I know that about me. I’ll never let the enemy within a me make me doubt my ability and neither you should you.

Better Voices

Steve Keating 1 Comment

Most people won’t actually admit to hearing voices in their head. They think if people find out they will be sent immediately to see a psychiatrist…or worse. People think that way because one of the voices in their head tells them to think that way.

Everybody hears voices in their head. Sometimes it’s the voice of fear. Sometimes it’s the voice of reason. Sometimes it’s the voice of self-doubt. Sometimes it’s the voice of belief and confidence.

Some of the voices are stronger than others. For too many people the voices they hear most often are the voices of fear and self-doubt. For successful people the voices they hear most often are the voices of self-belief and confidence.

What someone hears in their head will determine their level of success. Do you allow the loudmouthed fear to overrule your voice of reason? Do you allow the voice of self-doubt to out shout your voice of confidence.

There are people in your life that you know better than to pay attention to. There are people in your life who you trust and listen to. You seek out their advice while ignoring the nattering naysayers of negativity.

Those voices of fear and self-doubt are nothing more than nattering naysayers of negativity. They are to be ignored just like the people you know better than to allow into your life.

Successful people have the voices of fear and self-doubt in their heads like everyone else. But they drown them out with their “better voices” of confidence, self-belief, and reason. When fear and doubt start their yapping successful people cut them off immediately with self-affirmation and confidence.

I think the key is paying attention to that voice in your head. It’s always there and if you aren’t careful it can influence your actions whether you realize it or not. So pay attention to those voices, when you realize it’s an unhealthy voice then either out shout it or overpower it with something better.

You have to admit to the voices before you can take control over them….but maybe you don’t have to admit them to other people. 🙂