[Alicia Davis] So we were just talking with a group of a mix of CEOs and executive leaders, and the topic of imposter syndrome came up, and we thought, let’s talk about that on our video because it’s actually not the first time that it has come up recently. Is it Stacie?
[Stacie Watson] No, I was just meeting with a somewhat new executive director, and she was sharing some of those same sentiments. And you know, it’s true that so many of our organizational clients have had lots of staffing and leadership changes over the last couple of years.
[Alicia Davis] For sure.
[Stacie Watson] And of course, the good news about that is often people are getting promoted into more senior levels of leadership. And what can be not so positive feeling anyway, is this feeling like I’ve just gotten moved into this more senior level and I don’t know what I’m doing right?
[Alicia Davis] Right. And it’s actually probably more common than you might think.
[Stacie Watson] Correct.
[Alicia Davis] And really, I mean, and this is actually what research shows like, it is a normal reaction. It’s a normal feeling to have uncertainty or anxiety or even doubt when you’re trying something new. Or even as you’re going – you know – moving up in terms of your responsibilities in your role in an organization, people look at you and think you’re supposed to know stuff just because you’re in that role, right? And it’s kind of an unrealistic expectation, and yet it just pops up in our minds and in other people’s minds, and so then we just kind of take that on, right? And then we can start feeling inadequate, and we can really start worrying, and we can start thinking and ruminating all about like, “Am I really in the right position?” “Should I really have taken this role?” Right? And all of those things that go down the rabbit hole.
[Stacie Watson] Yeah.
[Alicia Davis] But what do we do instead? Stacie?
[Stacie Watson] Well, I think sometimes it’s really helpful to notice those feelings or thoughts and not to just believe them, even though we have them, especially those doubting thoughts. Like I think we can just start to believe that story, and it is just that it’s a story. And one way that one of the leaders in our conversation earlier today talked about trying to remind herself is to say, “would I expect a colleague who had been in the role as long as I have to know this?”
[Alicia Davis] That’s right.
[Stacie Watson] And if the answer is no, then that’s probably helpful to remember that that’s true for ourselves as well. So if we’re going to extend a little grace to others, maybe there’s a way for us to extend that grace for ourselves. So I think our invitation for you, if you are experiencing these feelings of uncertainty or doubt, is to first notice them and then to really just be as kind as you can about sort of the journey of learning in a new role.
[Alicia Davis] That’s right, and to really, as appropriate, ask for support. And maybe it’s not support in the office, maybe it’s support outside of the office, or maybe it’s even calling up a colleague or somebody that you trust and just talking it out and getting that that feedback. And it’s also about, you know, just noticing the feelings, knowing that the feelings will shift, and the more that you can really, you know, somebody saw the potential in you and promoted you or put you in that role, right? So they saw that in you. So how might you even just remember to hold on to that as well. So from the internal and from the external, having that validation and support.
[Stacie Watson] Yeah.
[Alicia Davis] So I’m Alicia Davis…
[Stacie Watson] I’m Stacie Watson…
[Alicia Davis] And we are the owners of Transformative Leadership Strategies and certainly would love to hear from you info@TLStransforms.com in terms of how perhaps you might have supported yourself through some doubt and uncertainty. So thank you so much for listening and take care.
[Stacie Watson] Thank you.
