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The Challenge of the Week - Your New Result

“Imposter Syndrome isn’t a flaw.

It’s the entry ticket to growth and high performance.

You don’t need fixing. It’s a badge of honour.”

This week’s challenge is to see your imposter syndrome as a sign that you are a human and that you are choosing to grow. Because that is all it is.

And then: to do the thing it prevents you from doing – this week!

Have you ever stepped into a new role, a big challenge, or an opportunity you’ve worked hard for—only to hear the voice in your head whispering, “I don’t belong here. I’m not good enough. Any moment now, they’ll find me out”?

That’s imposter syndrome. And if you’ve felt it, congratulations: you’re human and you’re willing to face your Tiger and GROW.

We’ve been led to believe that imposter syndrome is a problem, a condition we need to fix. But what if I told you that imposter syndrome isn’t something to be cured, but something to be understood, accepted and then celebrated as a sign that you’re moving forward?

Imposter syndrome is a completely normal response to stepping outside your comfort zone. It’s what happens when you push yourself. Instead of seeing it as a reason to retreat, I want to invite you to reframe it as a sign that you are exactly where you are supposed to be.

A New Action…

I’ve spent years delivering keynote speeches on some of the biggest stages in the world. You might think that by now I’m immune to imposter syndrome. Far from it.

Sometimes I have personal things happening that cause me to doubt myself as ‘worthy’. Sometimes the audience is huge, 3,000 people in a big venue, like Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Sometimes it’s tiny: 12 CEO’s at a private round table looking at me.

“Who are you to talk to these people? They’re smarter than you are. What if today’s the day they realise you don’t deserve to be here?”

When did you first meet this voice?

I met it as I was passed the ball in the sport hall as a six year old.

It was there when I walked into my first lecture at Law School; at my first paid presentation; submitting my first manuscript to Random House.

But now I know: It’s the entry ticket.

It’s a badge of honour. It means I’m still pushing at the edge and learning instead of sitting in an armchair pontificating about previous achievements.

I manage imposter syndrome by reminding myself of three simple truths that you can use too:

1. I am unique.

Nobody else can deliver my message in my way. My experiences, my perspective, and my voice are mine alone. Within this group, this audience, only I have been to 100m under the sea or advised global leaders on how to engage and inspire high performance.

What makes you a uniquely qualified person to do this task? Bring that proudly into the room, have it singing in your head, and don’t become generic to ‘fit in’ and appease the voice.

2. I have prepared.

I don’t just walk onto that stage by accident. I’ve done the work. I know my material.

And YOU have prepared. You have done the work. (If you haven’t, this isn’t imposter syndrome. You are an imposter. Go prepare!)

3. I have the right to be here.

Opportunities don’t appear out of nowhere. You’re here because of years of dedication. If I’m standing on that stage, it’s because I’ve put in the effort to make it happen and others perceive me as ready and have created the opportunity for me.

YOU have the right to be there too.

When I remember these truths, imposter syndrome loses its power. 

Three Ways to Manage Imposter Syndrome

If imposter syndrome is holding you back, here are three practical ways to manage it so it doesn’t stop you from taking brave steps forward:

1. Recognise it for what it is.

The next time you feel it creeping in, pause and say: “Ah, there you are! This means I’m doing something meaningful.”Reframing it this way shifts the power back into your hands. Expect it. Welcome it.

For me, it’s a constant companion. I cannot ‘get rid’ of it unless I stop growing. It is there part way down on a freedive. It is there backstage. Heck, it’s even there ONSTAGE! Expect it, nod to it and move on with your work: it means you’re doing worthwhile things and spreading your wings.

2. Keep a success file.

When imposter syndrome strikes, it has a way of erasing all the hard work and wins that got you to where you are. A simple but powerful way to counter this is to keep a “success file.”

This could be a set of memories or folder on your phone or computer filled with:

• Positive feedback from colleagues, mentors, or clients

• Moments where you overcame self-doubt and succeeded

• Achievements you’re proud of, big or small

Whenever self-doubt creeps in, open your success file and remind yourself of the evidence that you do belong.

3. Accept it and take action anyway.

The biggest mistake we can make is waiting for imposter syndrome to disappear before we act outside of our comfort zone. It won’t. But that’s okay—you don’t need it to go away. You just need to move forward with it.

Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s action in the face of it. (The absence of fear is a mental disorder.)

What is Your Decision? Act Boldly Today.

So do you accept this week’s challenge?

If so, what decision will you make today to push past imposter syndrome?

Will you speak up in that meeting?
Will you apply for that opportunity?
Will you step forward instead of stepping back?

This week, take action despite the doubt. A new Result requires a new Decision and a willingness to step forward—even when imposter syndrome whispers that you shouldn’t.

You belong. You’ve done the work to be ready. Now go and prove it—to yourself.

Evaluate

Will you share your EVALUATION of your Decision, Action and Result to move past imposter syndrome?

I am offering a free place on my new DARE: to speak – High Performance Presenting to everybody who shares their experiences (with permission to publish - anonymously if you prefer) this week! Just hit reply and tell your story.

Book of the Week

This week I spoke alongside Matthew Syed and was gifted a copy of his book, Rebel Ideas – which I can now highly recommend.

I loved Matthew’s first book BOUNCE too - particularly topical if you’re thinking about managing your mind under pressure in your quest for High Performance

Matthew makes a strong case that true intelligence does not come from individual genius but is about collective problem solving through diverse perspectives.

My Week

I ended the week before last week working with a big brand in Geneva and tagged on a quick trip to the Alps over the weekend to meet with my friends David Hughes and Carolyn Bennett.

David is an elite skier and ski coach and he has helped me learn skiing in my fifties to a good (and fast improving) level. So my week began being pushed to my limits. You can follow my routes with David and Carolyn (and speeds) on STRAVA – I’ll follow you back.

David and Carolyn run Chalets Direct and you can follow David and his great mountain tips on Instagram here.

Back to the UK to join the wonderful people at THREE as they prepare for their merger with Vodafone later this year.

Delivering High Performance through ambiguity and volatility was the subject of my presentation. Then Matthew Syed spoke on “Rebel Ideas’ and the power of diverse, psychologically safe groups.

The week ended confirming with a global client that we began working with last year to extend our pilot of a 12 week online program to give leaders the skills to lead, encourage and inspire high performance through uncertainty. A cause for celebration all around!

Have a wonderful week ahead and don’t forget to share your adventures pushing past imposter syndrome for a chance to win a free place on the new course ‘DARE to speak’ - just hit reply to reach my inbox.

Write your story 🖋️

Jim

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