Imposter Syndrome

Definition:

The persistent feeling that one’s success or position is not fully deserved, and that others will eventually notice this and take action against you.

Imposter syndrome is not simply insecurity. It is a developmental stage where identity has not yet caught up with responsibility. You may contribute less than your knowledge warrants. You may second-guess your judgment. You may quietly believe others are more qualified than you.

On your best days, you trust your value.
On most days, a quiet question lingers: “Who am I to say this?”

When resolved, leadership shifts dramatically. Authority becomes earned internally before it is recognized externally.

“On my best days I don’t question myself, I know my value. On most days a quiet question lingers in my mind: Who am I to offer my opinion here?”

“I notice I offer my opinion less in meetings than my peers. I assumed this was just my personality, my way of doing things. But I see others who I believe are like me, and they contribute confidently within their domains.”

I might be stuck.