If you’ve achieved an ounce of success in your life, there’s a good chance you’ve experienced imposter syndrome. It’s that uncomfortable feeling that you’re not as smart or talented or skilled as others believe you to be. At any moment, you’ll be exposed as a fraud.

It’s an almost universal phenomenon that isn’t inherently problematic — we deal with various discomforts every day. The trouble is that giving into imposter syndrome can hold you back from taking important risks, making decisions, and moving forward.

What to do about imposter syndrome

Many of us have it, and yet when you’re in the midst of it, imposter syndrome can feel quite isolating. Everyone else knows what they’re doing and is barreling ahead while you’re over here pretending and on the brink of failure.

Like many things, the first step in overcoming imposter syndrome is to acknowledge that it’s happening. You’re questioning your own skills. You’re afraid you’re about to be revealed as a fraud.

You’re experiencing fear — not facts.

If you let those fears limit your actions or hold you back, then neither you nor your business will grow in the ways you want. Here are five things you can do to turn the tables on imposter syndrome.

1. Prepare

Preparation is a straightforward way to shut down those feelings of self-doubt. By taking the time to prepare, you give your brain an action to focus on (rather than ruminating about your inadequacies).

A few years ago, I was asked to speak on a panel about my region’s economic forecast.

The panel consisted of:
A city council member
The CEO of a real estate empire
A non-profit leader who was raised in one of the wealthiest families

And me.

Everyone at the table had more influence than me, and I couldn’t help thinking, “What kind of imposter am I?”

So what did I do?

I leaned on the media training I’d had earlier in my career and wrote up some talking points. I knew the panel would be covered by a newspaper, and they would be looking for sound-bites.

I came prepared with my notes in hand. (As did the City Councilman, though he put his away before we began the panel. I did not.)

I used my talking points to work the panel, just like my coach had taught me when I got my first job as a CEO. I listened carefully to each question, engaged with it, and then turned the discussion to a point I wanted to make.

The result?

One of my sound-bite quotes was the headline for the article the next day. Much of the context of the article was about things I’d said.

I went in as an imposter and came out a leader.

I had self-doubt, but I was prepared.

2. Shift your mindset

You’ve likely heard the concept of a growth mindset.

Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck’s work popularized the dichotomy between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. With a fixed mindset, you see your failures as indicative of your ability. With a growth mindset, you see your failures as an opportunity for more learning and growth.

If you’re operating from a fixed mindset, imposter syndrome has a ready spot to sink in its claws — any hint of inadequacy creates panic. If you’re able to shift your mindset to focus on the opportunity for growth and learning, your own performance becomes less important.

How do you do that?

One method for shifting your mindset is to embrace the word “yet,” as in, “I haven’t succeeded at that yet.” The crux of a growth mindset is that we all have the capacity to get better, that where we are is not where we must remain. Remind yourself that you are capable of growth and change.

You may or may not perform as well as you’d hoped in a particular arena. Either way, you’ve learned valuable lessons and will be better prepared the next time.

If you’re operating from a growth mindset, that’s a win.

See also The Authenticity Paradox, Harvard Business Review.

3. Reframe your limitations

Is the glass half empty or half full? That’s framing.

Sometimes what looks like a limitation is actually — or can be made into — a strength. For instance, say you’ve agreed to join a team that’s founding a new tech company. You’ve started a couple successful retail companies. You’ve never worked in the tech industry, though.

You’re feeling some self-doubt about whether you’ll have anything to offer.

Yes, there may be instances where your lack of experience in the tech industry will be apparent. There will likely also be instances where your perspective as an outsider could be quite useful. You may see questions about offerings or infrastructure in a completely different way.

We sometimes see this in our peer advisory boards. A business owner contemplating joining a Board may express concerns that they’re not as experienced, or from a different industry than the other members. We invite them to sample a Board meeting. They quickly find themselves sharing insights and getting helpful advice.

Being a novice or an outsider isn’t necessarily a bad thing. That outside perspective often leads to great innovations.

4. Acknowledge actual barriers

Though research shows that imposter syndrome affects every gender and race, the concept was originally focused primarily on women.

Some argue that it’s been used at times to blame women for their lack of success rather than acknowledge systems that have disadvantaged them. The same could be true of any minority. If you’re frequently the only woman, person of color, or underrepresented person at the table, recognize that your feelings of inadequacy probably aren’t related to an actual lack of skills or talent.

Instead, they’re likely the result of systems that have been inequitable. If you’re in this situation, the task of fixing the problem shouldn’t fall on you. Leaders everywhere still have work to do around diversity, inclusion, and addressing bias in the workplace.

At the same time, strong reframing (this challenge is an opportunity to grow) and positive self-talk may help you push through a difficult situation. Remind yourself of your accomplishments and all the reasons you deserve a seat at the table.

5. Join the club

Groucho Marx famously said, “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.”

You may not want to be a member of a club whose criteria for membership is that you’re afraid you don’t have the necessary skills or credentials and are about to be revealed as a fraud.

And here you are.

Knowing you’re not alone can help. When I got to that economic forecast event and chatted with one of the moderators, she admitted that she too felt like an imposter. She wondered how this young reporter gets to question people like me. Then I saw the city councilman come up with his notes, realizing that he too needed aids to be perceived as legit.

You may be feeling like you’re trailing everyone else, but chances are, they’re feeling it too.

Final thoughts

Many of us have the notion that one day we’ll arrive at a point where we have so much experience and knowledge that we won’t ever feel self-doubt or imposter syndrome.

For many people, that never happens. That irksome feeling comes up — in new situations, when we’re taking risks, when we’re connecting with new people. For me, after a career spanning a ten businesses over 35 years, there are times I still feel it.

I’ve found that the best antidote is having as many tools in your arsenal as you can. That means you never stop learning. You never stop growing.

One of my colleagues recently started a podcast, and I asked him why. Turns out he’s afraid of public speaking, and he thought starting a podcast might help him work through that fear. He’s adding to his arsenal.

One of the tools that’s been invaluable to me throughout my career is coaching. It’s helped me develop self-awareness about the areas where I need to develop more skills and the areas where I need to trust my own knowledge and experience.

Now, as a coach myself, I see imposter syndrome again and again with my clients. It’s a fact of life for entrepreneurs — one that can be used to fuel growth and self-awareness.