#155| Signs Imposter Syndrome is Wrecking Your Productivity, and How to Overcome It For Increased Confidence and Less Overwhelm: Overwhelm, Productivity, Time Management & People Pleasing

Do you ever feel like you're doing everything “right” but still second-guessing yourself every step of the way?

If you’re a high-performing woman who downplays her achievements, over-prepares, or holds back from new opportunities, imposter syndrome might be secretly running the show. This episode reveals the hidden ways it manifests — even if you're outwardly confident — and how to shift into calm self-assurance.

In this episode, you will:

• Learn 3 subtle signs that imposter syndrome might be hijacking your thoughts and decisions
• Discover how overworking and hesitating may actually be symptoms — not just personality traits
• Get practical strategies to recognize your own worth and move forward with bold, grounded confidence

Press play now to uncover the hidden ways imposter syndrome could be keeping you stuck — and how to finally feel ready for the next level.

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Life can be overwhelming, but on this podcast, you'll discover practical strategies to overcome overwhelm, imposter syndrome, and negative self-talk, manage time effectively, set boundaries, and stay productive in high-stress jobs—all while learning how to say no and prioritize self-care on the Overwhelmed Worki...

Episode Transcript

Michelle Gauthier (00:01):
You're working hard and doing all the
right things and checking allthe right boxes, but yet you
still feel behind and anxiousand you're constantly second
guessing yourself.
You're listening to OverwhelmedWorking Woman, the podcast that
helps you be more calm and moreproductive by doing less.

(00:23):
I'm your host, MichelleGauthier, a former overwhelmed
working woman and current lifecoach.
On this show, we unpack thestress and pressure that today's
working woman experiences andin each episode you'll get a
strategy to bring more calm,ease and relaxation to your life
.
Hi, friend, today we're goingto be talking about imposter

(00:46):
syndrome, and I think sometimes,when we just call it imposter
syndrome, we think aboutourselves having the thought
like how did I get this job?
I'm not qualified for this, orsomething obvious like that.
But today I'm going to talkabout three sort of secret ways
that imposter syndrome might beshowing up in your life in a way
that maybe you didn't realize.

(01:07):
And if that's the case, what todo about it?
Sign number one is that youdownplay your accomplishments
and chalk them up to luckinstead.
Let's say, you get invited tospeak on a panel and, instead of
celebrating, your first thoughtis well, they probably just
couldn't find anybody else, andI can't tell you how many times
I've had conversations like thiswith my one-on-one clients,

(01:29):
because I'll be talking to awoman who has this amazing job
with tons of responsibility, andshe's great at it, and she'll
get asked to lead something ordo something new and the first
question is am I even qualifiedfor this?
Could they just not findanybody else?
So if you notice this inyourself, you might have
imposter syndrome.
A great thing to do to combatsomething like this is to look

(01:52):
back and actually remindyourself of all of the things
that you have done and all ofthe hard work that you have put
in, and also give credit to theluck you've had.
There's always luck.
Maybe someone has a connectionwho gets your foot in the door
at some point.
Or you got lucky, like me, tocome from a family where my
parents were able to send me tocollege and I had that privilege

(02:13):
.
So you definitely get somelucky breaks along the way, but
lucky breaks aren't enough toget you far in your career.
Sneaky sign number two that youmight have some imposter
syndrome going on is you overprepare, over work, because you
don't feel qualified enough.
So you're asked to give like a15 minute update at work.

(02:33):
This used to happen at my oldjob all the time, where you
would get invited to a meetingthat you're not normally part of
and putting my hand up in theair because the meeting was
higher than you were and you'reasked to give a 15 minute
presentation or an update onsomething and it's supposed to
be simple, but you end upstaying up past midnight for
days tweaking all the slides andrehearsing and being stressed

(02:55):
out about it, because deep downyou're afraid that someone will
realize oh, she doesn't belonghere, she doesn't know what
she's talking about.
And this matters because youwaste so much time and energy on
worrying about that, whenreally you probably got invited
to the meeting because you'rethe person who knows the most
about it.
Sign number three that youmight have imposter syndrome is

(03:19):
you hesitate to go for the nextthing.
So you see a job posting or apromotion, a new challenge.
You have a or a promotion, anew challenge.
You have a secret desire tostart a new business, but you
automatically think I'm notready and instead of saying yes,
you stall.
And this matters because whenimposter syndrome is running the
show, it's blocking yourmomentum and you end up stuck in

(03:40):
your current role or yourcurrent relationship, even if
you're totally capable of more.
I read this somewhere and Ican't remember where or I would
credit the source, but I readsomething that said when open
job positions are posted and itwill say, you know, seven to 10
years of experience required, orwhatever it is that when women

(04:01):
apply, they have like 10 to 12years, they're overqualified for
the position.
And when men apply, they havelike three to five years of
experience, but they have thebelief that they can do it.
Why is that?
That's because impostersyndrome is telling us that we
can't do it and they don't havethat in this particular example.
I'm not saying no, men have itand all women have it, but in

(04:21):
this particular example I waslike that makes a lot of sense.
Women feel like we have to beway overqualified and men are
like let's give it a whirl.
So I don't say this very often,but let's try to be like men in
this situation.
If you feel like there'ssomething you want to go for and
you've been thinking about itand you're hearing me say this
right now, this is your sign,even if you think I'm not ready.

(04:41):
Go for it.
So those are three signs thatimposter syndrome might be
playing a role in your life and,if so, I gave you some tips for
how to let go of that impostersyndrome and start believing
that you are ready and that youearned where you are right now.
I mentioned this on Monday, butI want to mention again that

(05:02):
there's a.
I'm going to put a link in theshow notes to a quiz that is on
my website that helps you get tothe bottom of why you feel
overwhelmed.
Imposter syndrome could be theanswer.
Other answers could be peoplepleasing boundaries, not
managing your time or planningwell, not being super focused on
your productivity.

(05:22):
There are many reasons why youcould be overwhelmed, and if you
take this quiz, it will tellyou which one is causing the
most problems for you and whatto do about it.
So check it out.
I hope you have a fantasticrest of the week and I will see
you next week.
Thank you for listening to theOverwhelmed Working Woman

(05:45):
podcast.
If you want to learn more aboutmy work, head over to my
website at michellegauthier.
com.
See you next week.