How to overcome Imposter Syndrome – 10 tips
I frequently work with clients navigating the transition to more senior roles following a promotion. These individuals are high achievers, yet many grapple with self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Through my work, I’ve found that the following 10 steps have been instrumental in helping them access their inner power, cultivate serenity and self-belief, and step into their roles with confidence and purpose, unleashing their inner champion.
1- Master Your Self-Talk
Manage your “monkey brain.” Replace negative, self-defeating thoughts with encouraging ones. Your thoughts shape your feelings, which drive your actions. Improve the quality of your thinking to quiet the mind and build confidence.
2- Flex Your Confidence Muscle
To succeed, you must believe you can. When facing challenges, recall similar situations where you excelled. Tell yourself, “I’ve done this before, I can do it again.” Build a long-term memory for success and a short-term memory for failure.
3- Focus
Stay focused on your process and performance. Ignore distractions, whether it’s someone yawning during your speech or external noise. Don’t let others’ actions derail you; concentrate on what you can control.
4- Achieve Controlled Relaxation
Relaxation is key to peak performance. Nervousness creates tension and reduces oxygen intake, clouding your thoughts. Practice breathing techniques like prolonging exhalation to release tension and remain grounded in the present moment.
5- Know Your Self-Worth
Don’t tie your self-worth to outcomes. Compete with your best self, striving for constant improvement. If things don’t go as planned, learn, adapt, and move forward. Remember: you are more than your results.
6- Beware the Trap of Perfectionism
Strive for perfection, knowing it’s unattainable. The pursuit, however, often leads to excellence. During meetings, avoid overanalyzing—it drains focus and energy. Stay present and keep your attention outward to maintain clarity and flow.
7- Master Your Body Language
How you carry yourself shapes how others perceive and interact with you. Visualize confidence: stand tall, smile, and use relaxed gestures. Even if you’re nervous, adopting confident body language can shift your mindset. Research by Amy Cuddy shows that holding a power pose for two minutes boosts confidence and risk tolerance.
8- Label Your Fears
Identify whether you fear winning or losing. Believe you’re worthy of success: ask, “Why not me, and why not now?” Work hard, aim high, and accept that failure is part of growth. Sometimes, falling on your face is the path to glory.
9- Evaluate your progress
Review your progress on a regular basis. Ask yourself the following 3 questions a) what did I do that was good? b ) what needs to get better? c) what changes should I make to become my best?
10- Celebrate Success
Pause to reflect on your wins. Ask yourself what worked and why. Successes are hard-earned and deserve recognition. Don’t overestimate defeats or undervalue achievements; every step forward is progress.
Conclusion
As Alice Walker wisely said, “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” Remember, you hold more power than you may realize. Embrace it, pursue your goals with determination, and unlock your true potential. For further inspiration, consider reading Jim Afremow’s book, The Champion’s Mind.
About the author
Laura McGrath is an Executive Coach with a background in search and selection. She’s over 1,000 coaching hours with clients such as Virgin, BBC Studios, Virgin Partners, Booking.com Sum Up, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Gucci, BNP Paribas, Amazon and many start-up companies. She has a post graduate qualification in Executive Coaching from the IMI and has been a guest lecturer with Trinity College Dublin and TU Dublin. For more information call 087 669 1192 or email laura@isoar.ie.
