Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Here are 6 tips:

1. Recognize the thoughts and feelings as separate from facts. When you catch yourself thinking "I don't belong here" or "I'm going to be found out," pause and remind yourself that these are anxious thoughts, not objective truths. Just because you feel like a fraud doesn't mean you actually are one.
2. Keep a record of your accomplishments. Write down positive feedback, successful projects, and skills you've developed. When imposter syndrome hits, review this evidence of your competence. It's hard to argue with concrete examples of your contributions and growth.
3. Reframe "failure" as learning. Imposters fear being exposed through mistakes, but everyone makes them. Instead of seeing errors as proof you don't belong, view them as normal parts of growth. The most successful people fail regularly—they just learn from it and keep going.
4. Talk to others about it. You'll often discover that people you admire have felt exactly the same way. Sharing these feelings reduces their power and helps you realize how common they are, especially among high achievers who set demanding standards for themselves.
5. Focus on contribution over perfection. Instead of trying to prove you deserve to be somewhere, concentrate on how you can help or add value. When you're genuinely focused on contributing to your team or field, there's less mental energy available for self-doubt and comparison.
6. Reframe your internal dialogue. Instead of "I don't know what I'm doing," try "I'm learning as I go." Replace "I got lucky" with "I was prepared when opportunity came." This shift from fixed self-criticism to growth-oriented thinking can reduce the power of imposter thoughts.

 

Some resources for you:

Project more confidence and credibility with my free tips: 9 Words to Avoid & What to Say Instead: Words to Avoid | Karen Laos

My book “Trust Your Own Voice”: https://karenlaos.com/book/

Episodes also available on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videos

 

Connect with me:

Website: https://www.karenlaos.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenlaosofficial 

Karen Laos, Communication Expert and Confidence Cultivator, leverages 25 years in the boardroom and speaking on the world’s most coveted stages such as Google and NASA to transform missed opportunities into wins. She is fiercely committed to her mission of eradicating self-doubt in 10 million women by giving them practical strategies to ask for what they want in the boardroom and beyond. She guides corporations and individuals with her tested communication model to generate consistent results through her Powerful Presence Keynote: How to Be an Influential Communicator.

 

Get my free tips: 9 Words to Avoid & What to Say Instead: https://karenlaos.com/words-to-avoid/

 

Connect with me:

Website: https://www.karenlaos.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenlaosofficial 

Facebook: Ignite Your Confidence with Karen Laos: https://www.facebook.com/groups/karenlaosconsulting

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlaos/

Episodes also available on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videos

My book “Trust Your Own Voice”: 

https://karenlaos.com/book/