Have you ever doubted your skills, abilities, or accomplishments despite clear evidence of your success? Perhaps you’ve even felt like a fraud? There’s a term for this—imposter syndrome—and most of us have experienced it at some point in our lives.
So how do you overcome it? In this article, entrepreneurs and leaders share their personal experiences with imposter syndrome and offer advice for effectively moving past it—and even benefiting from it.
1. Imposter syndrome pushed me to expand my knowledge and improve my skills, leading to better work and more opportunities in my career
"Early in my career as a content creator, I landed a project with a high-profile client who wanted a series of in-depth articles on a subject I wasn't deeply familiar with. Despite having some background knowledge, I felt like an imposter. I questioned whether I was the right person for the job and feared that my lack of expertise would show in the final product.
"However, instead of letting that fear paralyze me, I decided to dive headfirst into research. I read everything I could find on the topic, interviewed experts, and spent hours analyzing data to ensure that my content would be accurate and insightful. The feeling of inadequacy pushed me to work harder than I ever had before.
"When I finally submitted the articles, I was still nervous about how they would be received. To my surprise, the client was thrilled. They praised the depth of the research and the clarity of the writing, and the articles ended up being some of the most well-received pieces I had ever written. The project led to more opportunities with other high-profile clients, boosting my confidence and establishing me as a more versatile writer.
"This experience taught me that imposter syndrome, while uncomfortable, can be a powerful motivator for growth. It pushed me to expand my knowledge and improve my skills, leading to better work and more opportunities in my career. I learned to embrace those feelings of doubt as a sign that I was stepping out of my comfort zone and growing as a professional."2. Feeling out of place can be a catalyst for growth
"In 2018, I was invited to join Marshall Goldsmith's 100 Coaches, which consists of some of the world's most respected executive coaches, leadership, and management thinkers. Initially, I felt like an imposter among such accomplished professionals. I questioned whether I truly belonged in this elite group. However, that sense of imposter syndrome pushed me to grow in ways I hadn't anticipated. It motivated me to elevate my coaching practice and engage deeply with the incredible minds around me.
"Being part of this group has profoundly impacted my life. The guidance and clarity I've gained in my business and coaching practice are immeasurable. This experience taught me that sometimes, feeling out of place can be a catalyst for growth. It pushed me to embrace challenges, learn from others, and ultimately realize that I belonged. This realization has helped me step into my potential more confidently and purposefully."3. My co-founder helped me realize that imposter syndrome could actually be an advantage
"I've continually battled with imposter syndrome throughout my career. As someone who helps young adults change their mindsets to navigate the real world, I often felt like I wasn't practicing what I preached. The constant worry that my advice wasn't helpful or that students wouldn't resonate with our message hindered my ability to push our company forward. That is, until my co-founder helped me realize that imposter syndrome could actually be an advantage.
"The feeling I experience is one that countless young people grapple with every day. As they navigate their future planning, the jobs they apply for and the degrees they pursue often feel disconnected or inauthentic. They too struggle with imposter syndrome. By recognizing my own struggles and using them to relate to young people who feel the same way, I've allowed my authenticity to build credibility with students around the globe."4. I don't know if I'd be where I am today if I hadn't gone through this period of feeling like an imposter
"Starting my software company was a dream come true, but I can't deny that it brought a lot of self-doubt. I was competing against big players with years of experience and much deeper pockets. It was intimidating. I kept thinking, 'Who am I to think I can compete in this industry?'
"But instead of giving up, I used this feeling to fuel my learning. I signed up for online courses, attended every industry event I could, and sought out mentors. I wanted to prove to myself that I belonged.
"Looking back, I realize that these feelings made me work harder and think more creatively. They pushed me to constantly improve, and I don't know if I'd be where I am today if I hadn't gone through this period of feeling like an imposter."
—Josh Kohlbach, Wholesale Suite
5. The feeling of not being good enough can actually drive you to achieve great things
"When I first started my business, we got a chance to present our software to a big potential client. I felt really nervous and out of place, worrying they might think I wasn't experienced enough. But instead of letting this fear stop me, I decided to use it as motivation. I spent countless hours perfecting our presentation and learning everything I could about the client's needs. I practiced my pitch over and over, making sure I could answer any question they might have.
"When the day arrived, I felt more prepared than ever. To my surprise, the presentation went incredibly well. The client was impressed with how much effort we had put into understanding their specific needs, and we are still working together to this day!
"Looking back, feeling like an imposter pushed me to work harder and be better prepared. This experience taught me that sometimes, the feeling of not being good enough can actually drive you to achieve great things."
—John Turner, SeedProd
6. Instead of letting these feelings paralyze me, I decided to turn them into motivation
"Early in my career, I was allowed to lead a major campaign for a high-profile client. Despite my qualifications, I couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't experienced enough for the task. I felt like an imposter among my more seasoned colleagues and worried that my lack of experience would become glaringly obvious.
"Instead of letting these feelings paralyze me, I decided to turn them into motivation. I realized that if I felt unqualified, I needed to over prepare and seek guidance from peers. I spent extra hours researching, attending workshops, and gathering insights from colleagues who had managed similar projects. I approached the project humbly, asking many questions and being open to feedback, which helped refine my strategy.
"This approach didn't just make me more prepared; it also helped me build stronger relationships with my team. They appreciated my willingness to learn and collaborate, which built a supportive environment. As the campaign progressed, I grew more confident in my abilities, and the campaign ended up being a success, exceeding client expectations.
"Feeling like an imposter pushed me to work harder and engage more deeply with my team, turning a moment of self-doubt into a significant career milestone. The experience taught me that feeling like an imposter can be a sign of growth—it means you're stepping out of your comfort zone and challenging yourself, which is essential for professional development."
—Kristin Kimberly Marquet, Marquet Media
7. Imposter syndrome can be a catalyst for improvement and achieving more than you initially thought possible
"There was a time early in my career when we were expanding rapidly and I found myself negotiating deals with large retailers, something I had never done before. I remember feeling like an imposter, wondering if I was really qualified to be in those high-stakes meetings. The doubt was overwhelming, and I questioned whether I could truly hold my own in such a competitive environment. However, instead of letting those feelings paralyze me, I used them as motivation to prepare extensively.
"I studied every aspect of the deals, practiced my pitch relentlessly, and sought advice from mentors who had experience in retail negotiations. That preparation paid off. Not only did we secure the deals, but the experience also significantly boosted my confidence and validated my role as a leader.
"Looking back, that imposter syndrome pushed me to go above and beyond in my preparation, ultimately leading to a successful outcome and personal growth. It taught me that feeling like an imposter doesn’t have to be a setback; it can be a catalyst for improvement and achieving more than you initially thought possible."
—Michelle Aran, Velvet Caviar
8. Feeling like an imposter underscores the importance of embracing vulnerability and using our doubts as catalysts for growth and connection in the professional world
"Despite my 13 years in the web design industry and winning multiple industry awards, I can definitely relate to feeling like an imposter at times. Even after all these years of experience, every new project still brings its own unique challenges. But looking back, some of the situations where I doubted myself the most actually turned out to be real growth opportunities.
"One such situation that stands out is when I was invited to mentor young designers after our studio had gained some recognition in the field. At first, the idea of mentoring seemed scary. Even though we were successful at making designs that made a difference for cutting-edge businesses, I started to wonder if I really had anything useful to offer these aspiring designers.
"As I started to talk about my career with these young designers, the doubts and problems I had faced along the way turned into powerful teaching tools. I was able to give the mentees valuable advice by being open about the challenges and the constant need to adapt in our quickly changing industry.
"Not only did mentoring young designers change their lives, it changed my life too. It made me talk about and think about my own journey in web design, including the methods we use at my company to come up with new designs for tricky fields like Web3 and fintech. This process of thinking about and explaining my experiences helped me understand them better and see how valuable they are.
"In conclusion, what began as a challenging situation where I felt like an imposter turned into a significant growth opportunity. It not only benefited the young designers I mentored but also enhanced my own professional development and the overall approach of our studio. This experience underscores the importance of embracing vulnerability and using our doubts as catalysts for growth and connection in the professional world."
—Dima Lepokhin, Heartbeat
9. Instead of letting insecurity paralyze me, I turned it into a learning opportunity
"Early in my journey as the founder and CEO of a website design plugin, I was invited to speak at a major industry conference. As someone who had recently transitioned from being a UX designer to leading a company, I felt like an imposter among the seasoned CEOs on the panel.
"Instead of letting that insecurity paralyze me, I turned it into a learning opportunity. I openly acknowledged my fresh perspective and used it to engage the audience in a more relatable way, sharing the unique challenges of scaling from a UX background to a leadership role."
—Rasmus Myhrberg, Spark Plugin
10. When I feel out of my comfort zone, I see it as a challenge instead of feeling like I don't belong
"Early in my career, I was working for a large banking equipment manufacturer. They asked me to take charge of a key recruitment program for our new e-finance division. I have to admit, despite my experience, I was completely new to the role offered. The technology was very advanced, and I feared that I had no expertise on how to headhunt for such specific positions.
"Instead of saying no to my GM, I decided to tackle it head-on. I became a student of e-finance technology to boost my skills. I spent nights scrolling through BBC and CNN for news about this and watching online tutorials.
"In that process, I felt that I was enjoying the process. My enthusiasm must have shown because soon some of my senior colleagues started coming to me with e-finance questions. I had become the go-to person in the department for anything related to e-finance, even helping with hiring in that area. Within a year, the promotion came for me to head the tech recruitment arm of the company.
"When I look back, I realize that if I hadn't felt like an imposter, I might not have pushed myself to learn so much about e-finance. That knowledge helped me do my job better and opened doors for me. I learned that feeling like an imposter can be scary, but it doesn't have to stop you. It can mean you're trying something new and growing. Now, when I feel out of my comfort zone, I see it as a challenge instead of feeling like I don't belong.
"So, if you ever feel like an imposter, don't let it hold you back. Use it as a push to learn, grow, and accomplish things you never thought you could."
—Jan Lutz, Sustainability Jobs
11. That initial feeling of being an imposter pushed me to take risks that ultimately led to incredible growth and satisfaction in my career
"When I moved from Russia to Canada, I had to start over. I had worked at the world's largest law firm, representing companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft, but in Canada, I had to go back to law school. Despite my background, I didn't get a single job offer from a law firm. I felt like an imposter, but instead of giving up, I decided to dive into entrepreneurship and start my own law firm. It was tough—money was tight, and I had no experience or connections—but as I kept building the business, I realized I enjoyed it.
"Eventually, I made the scary decision to give up my legal license and focus on being a business owner. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made. It gave me the freedom to run the business my way, and now I can work from anywhere. That initial feeling of being an imposter pushed me to take risks that ultimately led to incredible growth and satisfaction in my career."
—Andrei Mincov, Trademark Factory®
12. Never let a little bit of self-doubt stop you from achieving your career dreams
"I took part in a prestigious startup accelerator program called Y Combinator when I was 18 years old. To participate in the program, I had to leave my family and move from the UK to the U.S. During the program, I was surrounded by other founders who already had previous startups, impressive career backgrounds, and strong educations—at that time, I definitely felt like an imposter and out of my depth.
"Not letting that concern me and trusting in myself that I could do what I set out to do led to me still being in the U.S. fifteen years later and having two startup exits to Stripe and Airbnb under my belt. Never let a little bit of self-doubt stop you from achieving your career dreams."
—Simon Fletcher, Twingate
13. Embrace imposter syndrome and see it as a place of positivity
"I absolutely love this question because I'm on a bit of a mission at the moment to rebrand and change the perception of imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is the feeling you get when you're doing something that is out of reach, so you could equally define it as just striving for greatness, right? You wouldn't meet an Olympian who does not have a level of imposter syndrome, because they're trying to break a world record—they are trying to do something that's never been done before, and this can be the same for anyone. Embrace imposter syndrome and see it as a place of positivity in that we are branching out our skills and pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zone.
"As for a personal experience, I would say starting my most recent business (and going into creating a marketing agency without knowing how to create a marketing agency), and having that imposter syndrome made me create something that I found out three years later operates incredibly differently from other marketing agencies. This is down to the fact that we use a lot more delegation. There are a lot fewer layers of middle management, and our efficiency is a lot higher, allowing us to do things like the four-day week.
"So, by being an 'imposter' by not knowing how to build a marketing agency, I built one that I feel is the next model of what marketing agencies need to be if they're to be highly efficient, data- and AI-driven, but also people-focused as well."
—Aled Nelmes, Lumen SEO
About the Author
Post by: Brett Farmiloe
Brett Farmiloe is the founder and CEO of Featured, a platform where business leaders can answer questions related to their expertise and get published in articles featuring their insights.
Company: Featured
Website: www.featured.com
Connect with me on LinkedIn.
