You Are Perfectly Designed - Week 27

You’ve felt it before: that nagging sense that your success is undeserved, that you’ve somehow fooled the world and will soon be found out. That feeling has a name. impostor syndrome and it doesn’t discriminate. Studies show it touches everyone from early‑career professionals to C‑suite veterans. A recent Korn Ferry survey found that 71 percent of U.S. chief executives and 65 percent of other senior executives struggle with impostor feelingsforbes.com. In another survey by KPMG, three‑quarters of executive women said they had experienced impostor syndromestkate.edu. Even at Duke University, chemistry professor and dean Valerie Ashby admits she once felt “uniquely disqualified,” overworking herself to mask her self‑doubt. When she finally talked about her feelings with trusted colleagues, she discovered she wasn’t alone.

Impostor syndrome is not a psychological diagnosis so much as an emotional response to new challenges and structural inequities. The research suggests that feelings of uncertainty are a feature, not a bug, of leadership and growth. Top executives who never doubt themselves can be dangerous; overconfidence blinds them to uncertainty and riskforbes.com. Women and people of color often face impostor feelings because they are underrepresented in leadership and receive less recognition than menstkate.edu. Recognizing that these feelings are common and contextual is the first step to moving through them.

Build your support system

Break the silence. Ashby’s breakthrough came when she shared her insecurities with her friends and mentor. They validated her accomplishments and helped her reframe her thinking. Similarly, Duke physician Will Bynum cautions against “faking it till you make it.” Pretending to be confident widens the gap between public persona and inner beliefs, increasing tension. Instead, he advocates for authenticity and self‑compassion, encouraging colleagues to voice their doubts so others feel safe doing the same. Even CEOs benefit from confidants. Forbes columnist John Rau notes that peer groups like the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and World Presidents’ Organization (WPO) let leaders discuss anxieties confidentially, proving that vulnerability is part of effective leadershipforbes.com.

Use mentors and coaches

Many professionals quell impostor feelings by seeking guidance. St. Catherine University reports that 72 percent of senior executive women turn to mentors or career coaches during moments of self‑doubtstkate.edu. Mentors help you catalogue your achievements and strengths, challenge distorted thinking and remind you that you belongstkate.edu. Coaches can also help you craft career plans that clarify where you add value and how your unique experiences enrich your work.

Reframe your internal narrative

Negative self‑talk fuels impostor syndrome. The St. Catherine article recommends cultivating mindfulness: meditation and breathing exercises can help quiet looping thoughtsstkate.edu. When a critical voice tells you that you don’t belong, challenge it with evidence: recall successful projects, positive feedback and specific skillsstkate.edu. Some people visualize stopping negative thoughts picturing a stop sign or popping a balloon — then replace them with affirmations such as “I am prepared for this challenge”stkate.edu. Maintaining an “achievement file” of accomplishments, testimonials and performance reviews can also remind you of your worthstkate.edu. Even simple power poses can help research published in Psychological Science found that standing in an expansive pose, like Wonder Woman’s, can make people feel more powerfulstkate.edu.

Think bigger than yourself

Another way to silence the inner critic is to shift the focus outward. Duke mentor Maria LaMonaca Wisdom advises graduate students to create plans that connect daily tasks to a larger mission. When we think about how we can contribute to our team, company or community, self‑consciousness dissipates. Impostor feelings become less about personal inadequacy and more about aligning our unique talents with a shared purpose.

Moving forward together

Everyone in our community from entrepreneurs building their first business to seasoned leaders has moments of doubt. The key is to recognize those feelings as normal and even useful signals that you are stepping outside your comfort zone. By building supportive networks, working with mentors, reframing your internal narrative and grounding your work in service to others, you can transform impostor feelings into fuel for growth. Remember, you are perfectly designed to navigate this journey. When the inner critic whispers otherwise, return to your achievements, reach out to your community and lean into the gifts only you can bring.