5 Sneaky Ways Imposter Syndrome Steals Your Confidence
Picture it–you just finished an important presentation at work. By all accounts, you crushed it. Your clients were smiling and satisfied. And your boss even offered you glowing feedback afterward. Nevertheless, there is a nagging feeling deep inside that steals your confidence.
You push away the praise and chalk the performance up to luck or good timing. You don’t think you really deserve the pat on the back and worry that you couldn’t replicate your success in the future. Deep down, you fear that soon everyone will find out you’re not really as smart as you make yourself out to be.
Meet imposter syndrome, a phenomenon in which accomplished people discredit their achievements and fear being revealed as a fake or fraud.
Imposter syndrome is extremely common. Up to 70% of people say they struggle with it at some point in their career.
In my research and coaching programs, I have found that imposter syndrome is more common and felt more acutely by Sensitive Strivers–those who are both high-achieving and highly sensitive.
Sensitive Strivers have a biological disposition to process their own thoughts and feelings more deeply, as well as the behavior of those around…