Imposter Syndrome as a Super-Power !

 

Most people answer that quietly. Almost apologetically.  

And incidentally, most of us DO suffer Imposter Syndrome at least from time to time. 

 

So let’s ‘reflect’ on the positive side of Imposter Syndrome - because there’s another way to look at it. 

 

 

 

It can be an uncomfortable sense that there is more going on than you fully understand or that other people might be seeing something you are not. 

And when it becomes acute, it's that sense of awareness that really matters. 

 

 

When you feel like an imposter, you tend to listen more. 

 

 

Now contrast that with the other end of the spectrum. 

 

Over-confidence. Absolute certainty. Zero doubt. 

No curiosity. Little interest in how others see things, only in reinforcing your own view of how things are. 

 

Now, which of those starting points gives you more to work with when it comes to developing leadership? 

 

(That’s an easy question by the way).  

 

 

Imposter syndrome is not the dead end it is sometimes made out to be. It is a powerful place to begin. 

 

All you need to do is to use the humility and curiosity that comes with the package. 

 

The required shift is not about trying to feel different. It is about changing how you respond to what you already feel. 

 

Many great performers get stage fright; the existence of the nerves isn’t the issue. The quality of their performance every night depends only how the artist responds to the stage fright, not on whether it exists or not. 

 

And it starts by looking into the mirror. 

 

 

So take a look in the mirror and study what you see. 

 

Not a quick glance. Not a critical reaction followed by dismissal. 

 

Actually study it. Because the reflection you see is much closer to how others see you than your internal voice will let you believe. 

 

 

You already believe other people see things differently to you. And often much more clearly so. You respect their judgement. You value their opinion. That is part of what sits inside imposter syndrome. 

 

So when those same people choose you, trust you, listen to you, promote you, there is something worth paying attention to. 

They are seeing something different to you... What is it? 

 

Study what you see in the mirror and stay with the question. 

 

 

 

Keep returning to the question - the answer is in the mirror. 

 

When a meeting goes well, study the mirror whilst saying “I played a part in that”. 

When someone backs your idea, study the mirror whilst saying “I made an impact” 

When you are trusted with something important, study the mirror whilst saying “ I was trusted with that” 

 

Don’t dismiss the reflection. Don’t explain it away. 

Understand it. 

 

 

There is no trick here. No sudden switch where confidence arrives overnight. 

It is all about repetition. 

 

You keep looking in the mirror. 

You keep questioning. 

You keep comparing what you think you see with what others clearly see. 

And slowly, your view begins to shift. 

 

You start to notice your own contribution. 

You begin to trust your judgement a little more. 

You see that you do belong in the room. 

 

The distance between self-doubt and confidence is often much smaller than it feels. 

 

 

If you start from a place of humility, you are already closer to leadership than you think. 

 

That is why imposter syndrome can be a superpower. 

 

It gives you BOTH the awareness to see the gap, and the mindset to close it. 

 

Most people have neither, or just one of those, you have both. 

 

So if you feel it, don’t rush to get rid of it. 

Use it. 

Study what you see in the mirror. 

 

Because the version of you that others already see is not imaginary. It's there in the mirror. 

 

It's just waiting for the inner voice in you to catch up with reality. 

 

 

If you want a structured way to explore the shift in practice, search “Elephant Leadership Camps” and come and join us on a Camp soon. 

 

We are all about helping people see what the mirror is already showing them. 

 

“Reflecting on Imposter Syndrome” … get it ? 

 

Search "Elephant Leadership Camps".