Overcoming Imposter Syndrome at Work

I was lucky enough to have my team grow from 6 to 800 people in 9 years. I was promoted from Senior Manager to Director to Vice President, and I had imposter syndrome the whole time. Here are 4 ways I fought it, and how you can too: It is no surprise that when my team grew 130x from 6 to 800, I ended up not fully knowing what I was doing. At the same time, it is hard to say no to opportunities when you have experienced downsizing and setbacks. So, as the chance to take on new tasks and challenges was available, I said yes. There was definitely an element of "fake it until I make it" in the whole process. It is also true that most of the leaders above and below me were in the same situation. Because of the unprecedented growth of Amazon through these years, most of my managers and direct reports were also in the largest and most complex jobs of their lives. While I cannot know the inner workings of their minds for sure, I feel confident that many of them had similar feelings of imposter syndrome. Action 1: If you worry that you are in over your head, or that people might find out you don't completely know what you are doing, realize that this is normal. Action 2: Understand that it is normal to be in the largest and most complex job of your life for much of your career. If you are not, it often means you have either stepped back intentionally or that you have suffered a setback (like a layoff). Growth inevitably means doing harder things than ever before. Action 3: Get help. Be open with your mentors on what you need. You do not have to share all your worries to lay out your challenges and ask for advice. If you are in an environment where admitting “development areas” is unacceptable, turn your language around and ask for "help optimizing performance and delivery." No one will be against optimization, and it amounts to the same thing - getting insight on any gaps and places to improve. Action 4: Hire a coach, therapist, or counselor if you need one. To be top performers, we need a strong mental game. As leaders, particularly of knowledge work, our whole performance comes from our minds. None of us would hesitate to go to a doctor if we were sick, or a trainer to develop our bodies, so getting help with our mental performance should be a no-brainer. However, there is hesitation and sometimes shame in getting help with our mental game. Readers: I really want to create a short course on fighting imposter syndrome and developing a strong mental game to help with these common challenges. What mental challenges are you fighting? If you have overcome typical worries either in a specific job or long term, share what you did please.

I just got back from a whirlwind live event tour in India. 6 life-changing insights from 6 days: 1. Discipline is the ultimate act of service to your future self. The most common question I heard was on how to develop discipline across different areas of your life. On a macro scale, you need to reframe discipline as an act of service to your future self. No one cares more about your actions in the present than your future self. On a micro scale, you need to bring the after into the before. Discipline is required when an action feels bad now but good later. When you find yourself slipping, remind yourself how good it will feel after. 2. Lifelong learners will always find a way to thrive. Focus on voracious learning and you'll always find a way to thrive. You can't sit in your current position and plan out the future. You can't identify your passion or purpose from a standstill. Lifelong learning is the effort engine that uncovers the answers to those questions. 3. Information is abundant, action is scarce. If information were sufficient, everyone would be rich, fit, and madly in love. Most of us fall into a trap of thinking that more information equals more progress—in reality, the information is cheap and the action is expensive. Instead of focusing on gathering information, ask yourself how you can take some tiny action against the information you already have. 4. Celebrate every win (no matter how tiny). Self-doubt is natural—it never really goes away—but you can limit its negative impact by celebrating your small wins just as much as your big ones. If you ever feel crippled with self-doubt, here's an exercise that helps: Each evening, write down one thing you are proud of from the day. It can be as big as achieving some goal, or as small as getting up at the time you said you would. Self-doubt thrives when you let perfect be the enemy of good—celebrate every win and fight back against its influence in your life. 5. You have to fight back against the Centipede’s Dilemma. A centipede is walking along when a rabbit comes alongside it and asks, "Which one of your legs is the fastest?" The centipede starts thinking about the question and quickly becomes paralyzed, unable to move. A lot of us are the centipede in this story: Overthinking is holding us back from building the life we want. When you think every decision has to be perfect, you become afraid to move. One powerful realization for life: Decisions are generally reversible, but inaction is not. 6. Dive through the cracks. If you think that the opportunities you want in life are just going to be staring you in the face, you're crazy. The opportunities are out there, but you have to be willing to dive through the cracks to capitalize on them. *** Enjoy this? Share it with your network and follow me Sahil Bloom for more in future! I shared a deeper dive with 700,000+ others. Join them here: https://lnkd.in/esGsF85Q

Next time you start a new job, do this in your first month: Create a personal accomplishment tracker. It doesn't need to be fancy. 👉 A blank section of a notebook 👉 An empty Excel spreadsheet  👉 A new OneNote or Notion page Just make it something you'll be able to find and access easily. Then set a 15-minute block somewhere in your week to come and record wins. "Wins? But I literally just started, I'm still training." That's okay! Write down the small stuff. ✅ Finished onboarding paperwork!  ✅ Conversation with skip manager!  ✅ Ran my first report in the new CRM! The idea is to build the weekly habit of writing down wins BEFORE you get busy. In time, you'll have ever-growing list of all the awesome stuff you've done and the progress you've made in your new job. This is immensely helpful for several reasons: 🤝 Supervisor Updates & 1:1s It's SO much easier to prepare for these when your past self is reminding you of the most important things you did last week. 💼 Performance Reviews & Promotions Justify your raise by showing your leaders all the ways you added value this year. Advocate for yourself and prove that you're ready for that next role. 🖹 Resume Updates It's hard to remember your metrics from years ago. Start writing your future self's resume NOW. Just make sure your tracker is saved somewhere you'll still have access to when you leave. 😊 Confidence Whenever you're discouraged or feel imposter syndrome creeping in, go read your list. Remind your present self that you ARE adding value. You ARE good at your job. Starting this habit early on in your new role is super helpful, and it's something I regret not doing more of throughout my career. And to everyone who's reading this and saying, "I started my job ages ago, I guess I missed the boat, huh." There's no reason you can't start this habit today. How do you track your professional accomplishments? 

Stop Calling it Imposter Syndrome: "5 Hidden Signs You're Underestimating Your Leadership Impact" Recent studies show 85% of leaders experience imposter feelings, with women and minorities reporting higher rates (Harvard Business Review, 2024). BUT HERE'S THE TWIST: MIT Technology Review's Leadership Center research suggests these feelings often correlate with high performance, not inadequacy. A 2023 McKinsey & Company study revealed that leaders who question their abilities are 32% more likely to foster innovation and 47% more likely to create psychologically safe environments. --> It's not about being an imposter - it's about having high standards. Here are 5 Signs & Solutions all people leaders must embrace: SUCCESS ATTRIBUTION BIAS:  ↳ Crediting luck for wins, taking full blame for setbacks Action: Keep a "Leadership Impact Log" - document weekly wins with specific evidence of your contribution. Research shows this practice increases leadership confidence by 40%. FEEDBACK DEFLECTION:  ↳Dismissing positive feedback as politeness rather than truth Action: Create a "Feedback File" documenting specific praise, results, and impact. Review monthly to identify patterns of strength. TOXIC COMPARISON:  ↳Measuring your behind-the-scenes against others' highlight reels Action: Implement the "3R Rule": Record, Reflect, Reframe. Document your daily challenges and solutions. Studies show this reduces comparative thinking by 65%. OVERWORK AS PROOF:  ↳ Working excessive hours to justify your position Action: Set "Impact Hours" - define 2-3 peak performance hours daily. Focus on outcomes, not hours. Leaders using this method report 35% higher productivity. STRATEGIC SILENCE:   ↳ Withholding valuable insights despite expertise Action: Practice the "First Five Minutes" rule - commit to contributing one insight in the first five minutes of every meeting. Research indicates that this builds confidence and momentum. The next time that voice of self-doubt creeps in, remember: 85% of leaders feel it, too, but only a fraction use it as fuel. Ready to ignite your leadership? ☎ Book Your Coaching Discovery Session Today: https://lnkd.in/eKi5cCce Joshua Miller #joshuamiller #leadership #executivecoaching #careeradvice #mindset #dei #bias #impostersyndrome #professionaldevelopment #getahead

19 years ago, I used to get incredibly nervous before speaking on stage. Racing heart. Tunnel vision. Dry mouth. Today, half of my job is being on stage. Here’s my 7-step pre-stage checklist for how I conquered stage fright: (Before you step on the stage) Step 1: Set One Clear Intention Nerves often come from scattered thoughts.  So anchor your mind with a single, positive goal: • For a pitch: “Get the buyer to sign and stay firm on numbers.” • For a presentation: “Connect with the audience and deliver value.” Avoid negatives like “don’t mess up.” Your brain clings to “mess up.” — Step 2: Pick a Focal Point Choose a random spot in the back of the room (or bring a grounding object, like a pen). Right before you begin, mentally send all your nervous energy there. It gives your brain somewhere to “put” the anxiety - and frees you up to focus. — Step 3: Breathe Mindfully Most people shallow-breathe when they’re nervous. This just worsens anxiety. Do this instead: • Close your eyes • Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth • Push your belly out with each inhale (deep belly breathing) — Step 4: Release Muscle Tension Anxiety makes us clench everything - jaw, shoulders, stomach. This kills blood flow and increases anxiety. Instead, start at your head or toes and relax each muscle group with one breath: • Relax your face and eyes • Relax your jaw and neck • Loosen shoulders and chest • Relax arms and hands • Relax your stomach and abs • Continue down to your toes You’ll feel calmer and more grounded instantly. — Step 5: Find Your Center Before going on stage, shift your focus to a spot 2 inches below your belly button. This is your physical center - used by athletes and performers to stay grounded. As you breathe, imagine calm radiating from that point. During your talk, return to it anytime nerves creep in. It’s your internal anchor. — (While you’re on stage) Step 6: Repeat Your Process Cue This is your personal “how” mantra. • Interviewer: “Smile and ask great questions.” • Speaker: “Keep it warm and engaging.” • Performer: “Smooth and steady.” Keep repeating it silently throughout to stay focused and intentional. — Step 7: Direct Your Energy Feel the nerves rising? Don’t fight them - redirect them. Use your focal point from Step 2. Mentally “throw” your anxious energy toward it. It’s like dropping a heavy backpack: instant relief. __ Save this post and come back to it before your next big moment. Whether it's a presentation, interview, or performance, these steps will help you show up as your most confident, centered self.

My pursuit of perfection nearly grounded my career. During those first few training flights in the F-16, it felt like I was drinking from a firehose. Every flight was complex and was analyzed and critiqued at a high level. To make matters worse, my struggle with imposter syndrome led me on a quest for the perfect flight. But in reality, this mindset held me back. My job wasn't to be perfect - it was to be effective, adaptable, and learn from my mistakes. Perfection was a standard I would never meet in the environment I was operating in. With this in mind, I started focusing on improvement rather than perfection. I eventually embraced flight debriefs as learning opportunities, not personal critiques. This mindset shift was a game-changer and improved my performance dramatically. That's when I realized: 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. I learned that pursuing excellence, not perfection, made me a better pilot, teammate, and leader. This shift in mindset allowed me to show more courage and take on tasks that stretched my abilities. "Good enough" isn't about lowering standards. It's about taking action, learning, and constantly improving. Does this mindset surprise you? Have you had a similar experience? Drop it in the comments! ------------------------ Hi, I'm Michelle. I'm a former fighter pilot turned speaker, author, and coach. If you found this helpful, consider reposting ♻️ and follow me for more content like this. #GrowthMindset #PursuitOfExcellence #Perfectionism #LeadershipGrowth #PersonalDevelopment #ImposterSyndrome #EffectiveNotPerfect

Ever Googled yourself and cringed at what pops up? That’s your personal brand in action—and if you’re not owning it, someone else is. 💥   I had the absolute honor of speaking to 400 amazing people at Microsoft’s Leadership Enablement Community about one of my favorite topics—personal branding and how it can shape a career you truly love.   As a former Microsoft team member, being back felt like coming home, but this time I was there to share a message I’m so passionate about: 💜 YOU are your own brand.    Whether you realize it or not, your personal brand is already out there, telling your story. The question is, are you in control of it?   I asked the group, “When you search your name online, what pops up?” Because that’s where it starts. Building a personal brand that’s authentic to YOU—your values, your experiences, your passions—is key to growing a career that truly excites you.   I loved every second of the energy, questions, and engagement from the Microsoft community. It reminded me why I’m so passionate about helping people stand out and tell their story in a way that resonates with the world.    To everyone who joined the session, thank you for showing up for yourselves and investing in your growth! It’s amazing to be part of a community that values leadership, growth, and authenticity as much as I do.   Here are 3 quick takeaways to help you build your personal brand: 💜 1. Get intentional about your online presence. What people find when they search your name matters. Make sure your digital footprint reflects your true self and professional goals.   💜 2. Craft your personal story. Your brand isn’t just about what you do—it’s about who you are. Make sure your narrative highlights your unique strengths, values, and what sets you apart.   💜 3. Stay consistent and authentic. Your brand is a long-term investment. Stay true to who you are and ensure your messaging is consistent across all platforms.   Remember, your career is your brand, and YOU have the power to amplify your impact.  Let’s keep pushing boundaries together.   #Branding #PersonalBranding #CareerAdvice #StandOutAuthority #LinkedIn

Before becoming an Executive, I was an INVISIBLE contributor for the first 10 years of my career. (you probably are too) I was: Dreaming of recognition but → keeping my head down and hoping someone would notice Dreaming of promotions but → waiting for my turn instead of advocating for myself Dreaming of leadership roles but → staying quiet in meetings to avoid rocking the boat Dreaming of making an impact but → underselling my achievements to appear humble Turning point? I got snubbed for promotions not once, not twice but THREE times. Staying quiet was getting me a first-class seat at my DESK. After the third snub, I realized: I can't stay quiet and expect someone to notice me. I will always care more about my career than anyone else. I can't expect someone to articulate our value for me. I worked on: Actively sharing my accomplishments: "Our team's productivity increased 30% last quarter due to the new process I implemented." Clearly communicating my career goals: "I expressed my interest in leading the upcoming project to my manager, highlighting my relevant skills." Volunteering for high-visibility projects: "I took charge of presenting our department's quarterly results to the executive team." Quantifying and presenting my contributions: "I created a dashboard showing how my initiatives saved the company $500K annually." I eventually became an executive once I put these into practice. You don't need to change jobs every time you hit a roadblock. Or throw money at the problem with another degree or certificate. Learning to articulate your value can make all the difference. To master value articulation: Keep a detailed record of your achievements Align your work with company objectives and highlight this connection Practice describing your impact in concise, compelling ways Seek opportunities to present your work to leadership Regularly update your manager on your progress and aspirations Remember: "Your work speaks for itself, but only if you give it a voice." #aLITTLEadvice

After 17 years in high-stake sales, $100M+ in new business won, and sitting across from CEOs of Fortune 10 companies, I still get performance anxiety. Here’s what I do about it: QUICK BACKGROUND: I used to focus on planning every detail and playing out the entire scenario, whether it was for a: • Discovery call • Presentation • Meeting • Demo • 1:1 A SIMPLE, BUT POWERFUL CHANGE: I began focusing *only* on delivering a strong start. I’d ask myself: “What’s the most important thing I can say or show that ensures I have a good opening 5 minutes?” That’s it. This puts me at ease, because I know I can rely on my instincts, experience, and creativity to carry me through the rest of the engagement. However, this wasn’t something I figured out alone. I worked with a mindset performance coach to get at the root of my imposter syndrome and debilitating thoughts. After reassuring me this was common amongst high achievers, she introduced me to a self coaching model that changed everything. It’s called CTFAR, and I still use it today. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how it works (and access to the actual models I used during my highest-earning year of my career [$1.5M in total personal annual earnings]): https://lnkd.in/ehUpn_-U Hopefully it helps you too. Remember, you don't have to suffer alone with these debilitating thoughts. Small changes can have a dramatic impact. 🐝

Your Weekly Burnout Briefing Real talk. Smart tools. Your top burnout questions, answered. - Who is the imposter? Not me.  - A question I'm often asked, especially by young women of color is, "How do you deal with imposter syndrome?" I usually smile and give a knowing look.  I know what it feels like to walk into a room and wonder if I'm prepared, smart, or good enough.  I know what it feels like to wonder if you belong at the table you're sitting at. I stopped buying into imposter syndrome long ago. Impostor syndrome isn't my failure. It's a system failure. As Reshma Saujani put it: "The imposter scheme...is just a tool—to keep our concentration on our own inadequacies, not the system that is set against us." What I lean on instead is - How do I show up as the best version of myself? In my tech days I noticed the tech bros took up a lot of space. So I decided I would, too - a whole lot. (It was fun.) And when I did, I noticed something else: the more space I owned, the more other women felt confident to own theirs, too. By showing up fully, occupying the space I had earned and was using responsibly, I gave others permission to do the same. To enter rooms as the best version of themselves and to help heal and transform those spaces, for ourselves and for those who come after us. You drain your emotional and mental reserves when you constantly doubt your worth, second-guess your contributions, and overwork to prove you belong.  Over time, that slow drip of self-doubt doesn't just wear you down - it burns you out. A few reframes to resist imposter syndrome: - I am enough. I am safe. I earned my seat at this table. - I don't need permission to pause or process information. - I don't have to be the first - or the loudest - to weigh in on a tough decision. - I can interrupt interruptions. Try: "Let's take a breath before interrupting me or anyone else again." Or "Thank you for repeating my idea in your words. I'm glad it resonated with you." - I can take a body scan before replying to “that” comment. What feels like ages to you is often just a few seconds of silence. And sometimes, silence is what's needed. - I don't have to go it alone. Lock eyes with someone who gets it to build your courage muscles. It's not about being the biggest or loudest in the room. It's about being fully aware and present, knowing what you bring to the table, and ensuring you're at the table, not lingering on the sidelines. It's about walking in with your power and purpose, sharing space with dignity, and not shrinking to accommodate those who would rather you stay small. The goal isn't just to be in the room; it's to contribute and make it better. What will you tell yourself this week when you fall into an imposter trap? Want more? A new tip drops next week—or grab your copy of Burnt Out to Lit Up here - https://lnkd.in/emDV3ZtW. #impostersyndrome #burntouttolitupbook #burnout #burnoutbriefing #leadership #work