Coaching Cases | Impostor Syndrome

Common Symptoms

A lack of self-confidence, anxiety, doubts about their abilities and achievements
Feeling that other people have an overinflated view of them
Attributing any success to luck or just being in the right place at the right time
Feeling like a fraud / not feeling good enough
Being fearful of being “found out” as a fraud
Negative self-talk
Feelings of inadequacy, that they don't belong where they are
Dwelling on past mistakes
Having an inability to internalise accomplishments
Believing that the very fact that they got the job means that it can’t be that difficult
Looking more at what they can’t do, rather than valuing what they can do

Ways to Work with
‍The Case

The 360

The Impostor Syndrome Gap is the difference between the perception of self and how others see the person. The 360 may help bridge that gap.

Ask your Coachee of 5 people whose opinion he/she respects and trusts. Ask them for a 360 feedback. For example: what are the coachee's key strengths, achievements, what they value the most about your coachee and one area of improvement.

The Life Map

The Life Map is an introspective tool that enables your Coachee to look back at past stories professional experiences and key life milestones, highlighting the benefits from each of your experiences and identify any trends in your life.

Ask your Coachee to draw a visual timeline ranking the happiness level for each milestone. Analyse the sources of successes (reframing if need be, for example, when your coachee mentions luck). Analyse also how he/she managed to bounce back from lows.

3 Key Strengths

People who use their strengths every day are:

3 times more likely to report having an excellent quality of life,
6 times more likely to be engaged at work,
8% more productive,
15% less likely to quit their jobs.

Ask your Coachee to identify his/her key strengths:

What does your Coachee gets complimented on? What do his/her friends value? What do colleagues or boss value? What does your Coachee like about himself/herself? When does he/she feel in the flow?

View Sources

The Impostor Syndrome: Becoming an Authentic Leader, by Harold Hillman, Chris Abernathy, et al

The Mindfulness Workbook for Addiction: A Guide to Coping with the Grief, Stress and Anger that Trigger Addictive Behaviors (A New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook), by Rebecca E. Williams PhD and Julie S. Kraft MA