Six Ways to Overcome Impostor Syndrome in a New Leadership Role

After years of honing your expertise, juggling myriad responsibilities, and overcoming career-defining challenges, it's finally happened: you've landed your first leadership role.

For anyone who's witnessed your progress, this promotion is beyond deserved. So why can't you seem to escape the idea that it actually isn't?

Impostor Syndrome is a psychological phenomenon that affects the majority of business leaders at some point in their professional development, regardless of their industry and level of experience. It's a form of self-doubt that often goes unnoticed by team members and supervisors, an internalized fear of seeming unqualified for your position and unworthy of its successes.

Understanding Impostor Syndrome is critical to your future performance in an executive leadership position. Let's take the time to explore what Impostor Syndrome is, how it manifests, and 6 strategies you can employ to address it.

What Is Impostor Syndrome in Leadership?

Impostor Syndrome is the internalized self-doubt of your intellect, skills, and accomplishments, a feeling that exists despite your objective successes and other evidence to the contrary. It's often described as the fear of being seen and exposed as a "fraud," one which remains especially prevalent among high achievers in leadership roles.

In a new leadership role, scrutiny is inevitable. The stress involved in being seen in a favorable light, especially as an individual who seems to excel at every task, hit every deadline, and surpass every metric, can significantly influence the ways you think and feel about your own performance. In rigorous corporate environments, this immense pressure to prove yourself may lead you to experience Impostor Syndrome without ever fully realizing it.

According to a recent systematic review, the consequences of being unable to recognize this pattern of behavior can put you at risk of burnout, poor mental health, and other negative outcomes. These don't just impact you—they can also affect your team and the results of future business goals. Because of this, identifying Impostor Syndrome before it takes a toll can be invaluable when transitioning into a leadership role.

The Signs of Impostor Syndrome in Leadership

Although there are no diagnostic criteria for Impostor Syndrome, leaders of all types tend to experience this phenomenon in ways unique to them. Some of its most commonly reported symptoms include:

• A hypercompetitive need to be the best
• Self-imposing unattainable goals
• Providing critical self-feedback
• Overpreparing tasks to appear more competent
• Overworking or people-pleasing to satisfy others
• Discounting one's intelligence, skills, and talents
• Internalizing failures and externalizing successes
• An irrational fear of failure on achievement-based tasks
• A pronounced fear of success and its related challenges
• Difficulties processing or accepting praise from others
• Unfairly comparing one's achievements to those of others

According to author and researcher Dr. Valerie Young., these traits can manifest in five distinct types of leaders with Impostor Syndrome:

The Perfectionist — This individual devalues their own performance when not executed according to their standards. They feel like an impostor if they make a single mistake, constantly convinced they could've done better.

The Expert — This individual believes their performance suffers when not knowing more than they already do. They feel like an impostor if they don't learn all the ins and outs of a subject or master a task to the fullest extent.

The Natural Genius — This individual shames their performance for lacking natural intelligence or competence. They feel like an impostor when they can't pick up a task easily or take longer to learn a skill than others might.

The Soloist — This individual critiques their performance when put in a position of asking for help. They feel like an impostor when they can't reach an objective on their own and admonish themselves for seeking assistance from others.

The Superhuman — This individual judges their performance based on how much they're able to accomplish and how much effort they put in. They feel like an impostor when they think they can't reach the highest levels of achievement or tell themselves they're not doing enough.

Impostor Syndrome has the potential to diminish your progress in a leadership role. If left unchecked, it may leave you questioning your every move, ignoring positive feedback, and even diminishing your overall job satisfaction. However, there are intentional strategies you can employ to build your resilience against it.

Six Impostor Syndrome Strategies for New Business Leaders

Overcoming Impostor Syndrome may seem like a daunting task, especially when transitioning to a new leadership position. However, there are myriad adjustments you can make to mitigate its presence in your professional life.

To Seattle University's own Viviane S. Lopuch, Ed.D, some of the best interventions available to leaders today center on personal reflection and acknowledging one's most genuine self:

"By identifying and rejecting the allure of ego, vanity, and the need for approval, leaders can focus on their authentic values and purpose."

If you think you may be experiencing Impostor Syndrome in your workplace, consider implementing the following strategies:

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings

The first step to addressing Impostor Syndrome is to acknowledge how you feel and empower your eventual next steps. What symptoms shared above are hindering your progress? Meditate on this for a time and record your observations. After identifying what these aspects are, don't try to reject them. Accepting the part Impostor Syndrome plays in the leadership process brings you that much closer to overcoming it.

2. Challenge Negative Self-Talk

In executive leadership positions, your inner critic will always have a lot to say. Notice when its thoughts arise and how you tend to respond to them. Once you've familiarized yourself with this dialogue, try to question its validity, reframe its interpretations, or even practice letting it pass your mind without judgment. The less energy you give to negative internalized feedback, the less likely you'll feel like an impostor over time.

3. Focus on Hard Facts

A difficult aspect of Impostor Syndrome is differentiating your very real feelings from the reality of your circumstances. One of the best ways to find a balance between these opposing conclusions is to focus strictly on the facts. Track your progress on specific projects, keep a record of feedback received, and review either once self-doubt begins to arise. More likely than not, your personal beliefs won't align with the objective truth of the matter.

4. Leverage Professional Support

Remember: you're not alone. Impostor Syndrome is a nearly universal experience among leaders of all ages and expertise. If you find yourself struggling with feelings of self-doubt, seek the positivity and support of peers who believe in your capabilities. Consulting a mentor or executive coach who can provide measured insights into your performance is another way to achieve this. By connecting with your network, you may be surprised to discover how much you can relate your own struggles to those of others.

5. Celebrate Your Wins

If receiving praise isn't your strong suit, make a point to celebrate your accomplishments, both big and small. Working in a leadership position is no easy feat, and you deserve to pat yourself on the back every once in a while. Try to genuinely acknowledge when others positively validate your work as a leader and register their feedback as honest and intentional. Doing so will also strengthen your self-esteem and sense of worth while on the job.

6. Embrace Continuous Learning

Addressing Impostor Syndrome is a career-long effort. Dedicate yourself to finding new strategies to employ when new or existing symptoms occur, identifying what works and what doesn't. As you progress in your role as a leader, you may also want to seek further professional development by continuing your education, pursuing credentials like an Executive Leadership Certificate or even an Executive Leadership MBA.

Develop your leadership skills by enrolling in a program with the Albers School of Business & Economics. Explore our unique perspective on business leadership by reading the latest updates in our Point of View blog.