The END Of Imposter Syndrome
On September 4th 2016 I published an article on LinkedIn titled:
“I am a global thought leader waiting to be found out”
Today, on 25th January 2025, I am republishing the same article here on TOSCEO, but with ONE addition.
I am adding a 7th way to the following section titled “6 ways to no longer be held back by your imposter”.
What is this 7th way?
You will have to carrying on reading to find out!
Enjoy the story, and share it with whoever comes upon your heart.
“I am a global thought leader waiting to be found out”
Ever since I openly shared how much I am negatively influenced by imposter syndrome (the fear that you are a fraud and that at some stage you are going to be found out) when I talked about my bog standard doctor, something quite life-changing has happened to me.
I have started to realise just how many people are negatively influenced by imposter syndrome, and I have had a range of deep, honest conversations with many of them. This includes someone who is respected and regarded as one of the most influential global thought leaders in the digital industry, Avinash Kaushik.
How the hell can a global thought leader feel like they could be found out?
If you only remember one line from this article, please let it be this one:
If a global thought leader suffers from feeling like they are going to be “found out” then maybe you aren’t such a fraud after all – it is time to get some perspective and stop being held back by your imposter.
The perception versus the reality
I can see why this isn’t something that most people would admit to and speak openly about. Prior to me opening up, the reason I didn’t share my challenges with anyone apart from my wife was due to embarrassment and not wanting to show a weakness – weakness as a business leader, weakness as a someone that is respected, and weakness to my peers and competitors in our industry.
I thought that if I admit how I feel, it will actually underline that yes I am a fraud and that my low self-esteem could be exploited by others.
The reality is that my imposter syndrome has held me back over the last few years, and if I can do one thing, it is to provide other people (maybe you) with some ways to no longer be held back. As someone shared with me the day before writing this article:
The biggest hurdle for us all is our inner voice
6 ways to no longer be held back by your imposter
1) Realise you are not alone
This comment from my article when I was with my doctor said a huge amount:
“Paul, sincere thanks for writing this article. You've articulated something that many of us feel, but precious few would have the courage to discuss openly. Knowing you're not alone makes a massive difference. Thanks again.”
2) Realise you are in very, very good company
When you start to read about imposter syndrome, and more importantly when you start to talk to people who you would never expect to have it, you start to realise just what good company you are in. From global movie stars to global thought leaders, down to your high performing neighbours and people around you, imposter syndrome has no boundaries.
This is a message I received from one of my connections on LinkedIn on my article about my bog standard doctor:
“Hey Paul, I just read your post about Imposter Syndrome in floods of tears because you described feelings and symptoms I know only too well. Haven't watched the video yet because I'm kind of scared it won't have all the answers or it just won't work for me. I just wanted to tell you that seeing you say this affects someone as well regarded as yourself gives me hope!”
3) Talk openly to people
One of our neighbours is a family who from the outside appear to be extremely successful with lots going for them. The parents work in influential roles within the medical industry, their children are high achieving horse riders and academic successes, and they have a home and land which many people who probably aspire to.
Their oldest daughter has just achieved her expected range of A star grades at school in order to be able to take up the offer of going to Cambridge to pursue her goal of become a doctor.
When I spoke to her mum a few days after getting her exam results, her mum told me how always knew her daughter was going to get her expected grades, yet her daughter was crippled with self-doubt and fear she was going to fail to achieve the required grades,
This is when I suggested her daughter learns about impost syndrome so that is doesn’t end up suffocating her like it has with me on many occasions.
What I heard next I simply didn’t expect at all.
Her mum shared with me how ever since she was at high school, she has been crippled with a deep down feeling that at some stage she is going to be found out and fail. What the hell? She was at high school over 30 years ago. That is long time waiting to be found out.
She shared with me examples when she was younger of when big career opportunities presented themselves, which would have allowed her to fast track her career. The saddest part is that she nearly always didn’t take the opportunities: “as I couldn’t understand why I was being perceived as good enough to be offered them in the 1st place”.
I wonder just how many fully deserved, fantastic and potentially life enhancing opportunities that people around the world get offered but who decide not to take them for fear of being “found out”?
4) Stop comparing yourself to people who are more experienced than yourself
This was one of the key learnings I have made about imposter syndrome. It is so easy to compare you and your experiences and competencies with other people, but in particular people who are perceived to be more experienced and/or visible than yourself.
We simply have to stop comparing ourselves to other people who maybe we are striving to follow. To stop looking ahead of us and beating ourselves for not being as experienced and specialist as other people.
Instead we need to start looking behind us at all the people who we are more experienced than, who are looking up to us to listen to what we have to say and to take learnings from our experiences.
5) Turn it in to a positive for your life
When I asked people the question “Who ever feels like you are out of your depth? That you are going to get "found out"?” to people in my Facebook group We Are Growth Leaders” I have had some interesting responses.
These two in particular I felt were really important for everyone to consider:
“Every day! But I have taught myself to like it - it drives me to learn more and take a step back when I'm learning something new. And that's the key. Learning to step back or even use feedback from someone else better placed to judge you. Dunning-Kruger effect”
“I've not had imposter syndrome for a long time (maybe I’m too far in my comfort zone!) but I have in the past and personally I used to thrive off it. I actually enjoyed the process of feeling on the edge of my knowledge, it was all part of the thrill. Not that I would know, but I assume its akin to the buzz criminals have around 'getting away with it'. In terms of controlling it I found it straight forward. Ask myself, "do I know more than the person I am speaking/pitching to?" "what happens if they call me out/disagree?" generally the answers were yes and nothing critical.”
6) Talk to children about this
If you have children, or maybe if you are a teacher who can and does influence the lives of children, I feel it is our duty to make children aware of imposter syndrome as early as possible.
Why? If we don’t, more and more people will continue to live their lives with a constant fear of being found out, and worst still, choosing not to take up opportunities that present themselves during their life and career.
I hope in some way that what I have shared here will mean something for you now and moving forward. Thank you for reading.
The 7th way - to END imposter syndrome
As promised at the start of this article, I am now adding a 7th way that I didn’t know back in 2016. This isn’t actually another way to no longer be held back by your imposter - what I am about to share with you will bring an END to your imposter.
Your “imposter” is the father of lies, Satan, the devil.
THE “imposter” that I expect at the time of me writing these words billions of people across the earth still battle with, is the father of lies, Satan, the devil.
Would you like to END imposter syndrome once and for all?
Wonderful! ALL glory to God for your life as a chosen glory carrier.
Now read THE truth on what God says about the devil, and what God says about you.
Jesus said to religious unbelievers:
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
John 8:44 NLT
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
James 4:6-10 NLT
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7 NLT
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 KJV
We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first.
1 John 4:16-19 NLT
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:10 NLT
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9 NLT
Is Jesus Your Lord & Saviour?
If you haven’t already, it is now time for you to be born-again by receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour!
Head over to the Become Born-Again website to read God’s purpose for your life.
