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_{What we’ll learn today}

• What is imposter syndrome

• 10 Tips to overcome it

• Meeting ideas to get more unity

What is Imposter Syndrome?

If you’ve not experienced Imposter Syndrome in your career, you will.

Whether it’s on a Sunday night, a return from holiday, or starting a new role. It impacts everyone.

Team Meeting Exercise Idea 💡

A powerful exercise I tried was bringing up imposter syndrome in a team meeting and sharing some of my own experiences with it.

This is something everyone faces but rarely discusses openly.

The experience was incredibly insightful, and I learned things I hadn’t realised before.

Here are two key takeaways:

1. Openness - By having an open conversation on a shared challenge, we brought it into focus. Many important topics stay below the surface, but discussing them can help everyone feel more connected. Knowing others face the same struggles can be really validating.

2. Vulnerability - When people are more open with each other, they not only learn but also build stronger, more trusting relationships. They feel comfortable discussing this topic—and similar ones—in the future. When team members feel psychologically safe and trusted, they bring more energy, creativity, and their true selves to the conversation. This builds a sense of belonging.

10 Ways to Banish Imposter Syndrome

1/ Open Up - Engage in honest conversations with other leaders. You might be surprised how many have battled with self-doubt and fear of inadequacy. Knowing you’re not alone can make it easier to accept that these feelings are a natural part of career growth.

2/ Create a “Win List” - Track your achievements, big or small. Reflecting on what you’ve accomplished so far helps you see your progress and reminds you of how far you’ve come. Try this template.

3/ Keep Showing Up - Consistency is powerful. When I started a new role, I had to push through discomfort every day. Over time, it got easier, and my confidence grew. Each day you show up, you’re building self-belief—small actions add up.

4/ Seek Out Mentors - Connect with a mentor or coach and tap into their experience. Ask how they managed similar feelings and learn from their journey. Someone who’s 10-15 years ahead can provide valuable insights and encouragement.

5/ Talk to Your Leader - Having a conversation with your manager can be enlightening. They can highlight the impact of your work and affirm your value to the team and organization.

6/ Focus on Practice - Starting something new often means stumbling at first, and that’s okay. It’s normal to doubt yourself as you get the hang of things. Embrace the learning curve—practice, feedback, and persistence will lead to progress, which boosts confidence.

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7/ Embrace Discomfort - Regularly stepping out of your comfort zone builds resilience and self-belief. Each time you confront a fear, you strengthen your courage and confidence.

8/ Focus on Who You’re Becoming - Growth is constant, and you’ll be a different person in just a few months, with new skills, experiences, and perspectives. Recognizing you’re in a phase of growth can make self-doubt easier to accept as part of the process.

9/ Practice Self-Compassion - We all tend to be our own harshest critics. But remember, when you’re new at something, you’re a beginner, and mastery takes time. Every expert once started with a first step.

10/ Visualize Your Future Self - Imposter syndrome often stems from how we feel right now. By visualizing the person you want to become, you focus on progress and the path forward, rather than lingering in the present.

Final thoughts

I hope these tips are helpful! Remember, talk with trusted colleagues and peers. Feeling this way is completely normal and becomes easier to manage as you settle into new roles or recognise when it resurfaces.

Let me know what you think of today’s newsletter!

David

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