The Imposter Syndrome Myth | No Small Talk with Chris Melville

See, they have plenty of experience and qualifications.

They produce results every single day.

They have paying clients who recognize their ability to deliver what they've promised.

Some of my clients have even won awards for what they do.

But they can't accept the evidence.

They say things like, I've just been lucky.

They believe people have overestimated them.

They're frightened that sooner or later somebody is going to realize they aren't as good as everyone thinks they are.

Or they think something completely different.

Because most of the time, what we label as imposter syndrome isn't that at all.

Most of the time, when we think we have imposter syndrome, it's because we're doing something that we've never done before.

That is not imposter syndrome.

That's down to a lack of experience, expertise, or education.

Now, those things can feel really uncomfortable, but discomfort isn't always evidence of a psychological issue.

Sometimes it's just a red flag of a mindset issue or just bog-standard lack of confidence.

And I think we need to start questioning how quickly we reach for the label imposter syndrome.

Because the moment we give that feeling a name, we tend to stop investigating it.

We decide we know what the problem is.

I have imposter syndrome and that's just who I...

Oh my God, I hate that phrase.

And if the real problem is imposter syndrome, then you think the solution must be more confidence.

You have to believe in yourself.

You have to remind yourself how capable you are.

Push through the fear.

And so you constantly feel like you're letting yourself down.