Mission: Imposter Syndrome
We don’t talk enough about how common imposter syndrome is, especially during transitions. When your title’s gone, your team is gone, and your calendar is suddenly wide open, the voice that says “Who do you think you are?” can get very, very loud.
It’s sneaky. Sometimes it sounds like humility (“I’m just figuring it out”). Sometimes it sounds like strategy (“I’m not ready yet”). Sometimes it just sounds like silence: skipping the application, avoiding the job post, not replying to the message that could actually lead somewhere.
But imposter syndrome isn’t always a sign that you’re unqualified. More often, it’s a side effect of ambition — of caring deeply, of aiming high, of wanting to show up fully. That means it’s not something to eliminate. It’s something to navigate.
It’s a constant process for me. But here’s what’s been helping.
Keep Receipts
At my last job, I started a “good folder”: screenshots, notes, thank-yous, little wins. When I’m spiraling, I open it. Not to brag to myself, but because I forget. I forget that I’ve done hard things, solved big problems, and earned real trust. A quick scan is usually enough to shift the story in my head.
Borrow Belief
When I can’t hype myself up, I borrow confidence from people who’ve seen me in action. I reread LinkedIn references. I reach out to former coworkers. I remember the moments someone advocated for me. It’s not ego — it’s data.
Watch the Room
Here’s the truth I wish more of us admitted: most people are figuring it out as they go. I’ve found it helpful to watch interviews and podcasts with people I admire - the kinds of folks who seem like they belong in every room. And even they say: “No one here is that much smarter.” That reminder helps me own my thoughts. Because confidence and competence aren’t the same thing.
Tactics
A “good folder” (Gmail label, Google Drive, or just your Notes app — doesn’t matter)
A go-to text: “Quick gut check. Can I run something by you?”
A grounding object or phrase. For me, it’s a fortune from a fortune cookie (yes, really) that says: “Face facts with dignity.” I keep it on my fridge. It grounds me, especially in moments of doubt.
Resources
I work in external and public affairs, a cross-disciplinary space where I find inspiration in a lot of places. These are just a few that remind me to keep showing up, even when I feel like I’m one conversation away from everyone figuring out I’m a phony:
Granted by Adam Grant — a monthly Substack on work and psychology
Quiet by Susan Cain — a powerful reframe for anyone who isn’t loud by default.
Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss — yes, a children’s book. Still true.
Nike’s 2019 “Dream Crazier” ad featuring Serena Williams — for anyone who needs that push.
Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 concession speech — especially:
“Choose to fight only righteous fights, because then when things get tough — and they will — you will know that there is only one option ahead of you: Nevertheless, you must persist.”
Final Thought
Feeling like a fraud doesn’t mean you are one. It means you’re stretching. You’re growing. You’re stepping into something that asks more of you.
So if your inner critic is getting loud, keep receipts. Borrow belief. Remember that even the people you admire feel it too. And then move anyway.