Impostor Syndrome: How to Keep Moving Forward
Impostor syndrome: when doubt creeps in despite your successes
You’ve just achieved something important – a promotion, a project that’s taking off, or you’ve received a compliment on your work. And yet, instead of savoring the pride of your success, a little voice inside you begins to whisper: “It was a fluke”, “They don’t realize that I’m not that good”, or, “One day, someone will find out that I don’t belong here, I’m definitely not up to it”. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone – far from it. Welcome to the impostor syndrome club, where success is constantly challenged by self-doubt.
What exactly is this feeling that’s weighing you down?
It’s that nagging voice insisting you don’t truly deserve your achievements — that you’ve somehow tricked people into thinking you’re smarter, better, or more capable than you actually are.
Psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes first studied this back in 1978 and found that two out of five successful people feel like frauds. (And that’s just the ones who admitted it. The rest were probably too busy spiraling quietly.)
Other studies say 70% of people experience impostor syndrome at least once in their lives. So if it’s hitting you, congratulations: you’re weirdly normal.
Even Einstein had his doubts, so…
If you sometimes feel illegitimate, you’re in very, very good company.
Albert Einstein doubted his legitimacy to receive praise for his work, Isaac Newton thought he’d just been lucky, and Barry Barish (Nobel Prize winner in physics) regularly doubted his own merits.
So, if people who have revolutionized science have had these thoughts, it’s proof that feeling the impostor syndrome doesn’t mean you’re an impostor.
But let’s be honest: knowing this is interesting… but it doesn’t solve your day-to-day problem.
Still, let’s be real: knowing that doesn’t fix it.
It’s not just a passing doubt, it can seriously hinder your progress.
- You hesitate to apply for a better-paid job because “I’m not qualified enough yet”.
- You turn down an opportunity on the grounds that “surely someone else would do better than me”.
- You have trouble recognizing your successes, because “it’s normal, it’s my job after all”…etc.
And after a while, this feeling can trap you. You end up believing that you’re not up to the job at all, and worse still, you don’t dare move forward.
How to get out of it (without waiting to feel legitimate)?
Okay, you’ve got that pesky impostor syndrome. But rather than analyze it from every angle, let’s ask a more useful question:
👉 How did you get this far despite feeling like a fraud?
Because let’s be honest — if that inner voice were telling the whole truth, you wouldn’t have accomplished anything. And yet… here you are. Progressing. Making things happen. Nailing stuff. Clearly, something is working.
So maybe the trick isn’t to eliminate impostor syndrome entirely (spoiler: good luck with that), but to find the cracks where it loses its grip.
- When do you feel even slightly confident? Identify those moments — even fleeting ones — when you’re not second-guessing yourself into oblivion.
- When do you forget to doubt? Maybe it’s in the middle of a solid presentation. Or when you’re solving a last-minute problem like a boss. Those moments are gold. You need to cultivate these moments.
💡 Double down on what already works.
If prepping obsessively makes you feel more secure? Prep away. If talking things out with a colleague helps? Book that coffee chat. Do whatever gets you through — no guilt, no apologies, even if your coping style looks a little weird to others.
(Side note: Serena Williams bounces her tennis ball the same number of times before every serve and wears the same socks through a whole tournament. Whatever works, right?)
And if something’s not helping, ditch it. Try something else. Adjust. Repeat. You’ll feel steadier as you go.
💡 Facing a new challenge? Ask for support.
If someone’s offering you a promotion or new responsibility, ask for mentorship alongside it. Not because you’re weak — but because confidence grows faster with scaffolding.
You might not be Einstein — but that’s not the point.
Yes, you’ve got flaws. So does everyone. Yes, you’ll have off days. Welcome to life. But your imperfect, occasionally wobbly self still gets stuff done. Still contributes. Still matters.
And somewhere out there is someone who needs exactly what YOU bring to the table. Even if you’re still figuring things out. Especially because you’re still figuring things out.
In other words, your progress isn’t just a gift you give yourself. It’s also an opportunity for those who, without you, would be even more lost. So keep up the good work. 🚀
And if you still have doubts, why not call on a dynamic coach to boost you and accompany you on this path? Don’t let impostor syndrome hold you back. After all, even the greatest have needed support to shine. 😎✨
