Crushing Self-Doubt: How to Tackle & Overcome Imposter Syndrome
We’re covering a topic that is in the hearts and minds of many coaches whether they are brand new, or they’ve had their business for a while. Each stage of business can bring on feelings of imposter syndrome.
The definition of imposter syndrome is loosely defined as doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud.
There are many reasons to feel self-doubt that comes with a big helping of imposter syndrome. It can be because…
- You’re just starting your business and don’t have much experience yet
- You’ve been away from your business for a while and aren’t sure how to dive back in with your followers
- You want to make some big changes in your business and aren’t sure how your family, friends and followers will take the news
- Maybe it’s a little bit of all of those things that has you feeling unsure of yourself.
But here’s the thing, imposter syndrome is a thought, not an actual fact. It has no control over you and isn’t part of your identity. You can choose to ignore thoughts and feelings of imposter syndrome and replace them with healthier, more self-affirming thoughts instead.
Do you ever second-guess your abilities to help a client or the value you bring to the table? If you answered yes… rest assured you’re not alone.
Imposter syndrome can cause fear of success, fear of failure or even fear of being exposed as a fraud.
One coach recently shared with us – I suffer from imposter syndrome every day and I’ve been at this a while!
Every time you up-level your business you are going to be challenged by imposter syndrome.
Today we’re sharing 3 steps to cure self-doubt and impostor syndrome once and for all.
Step 1: Learn to quickly identify the feelings that cause you to feel like an impostor.
Being able to quickly identify the feelings, or even situations, that cause you to feel inadequate is crucial to shutting down those nasty voices inside your head. Typically, each of us has a very specific voice reel that plays in our head when we feel like we’re not good enough. As soon as you recognize that voice you must turn it around with feelings of positivity. Keep a list close by of people you’ve helped & successes you’ve experienced that you can reference whenever necessary. Believe the list of grateful clients that is fact and not the negative voice in your head.
Step 2: Identify a support person or group that you can rely on in times of need.
Having a friend, family member or trusted colleague that you can confide in is a must. All of us need a go-to support person in our life. In business, entrepreneurs often join mastermind groups to find support. We’ve always believed that when two people share a similar experience the potential for extreme healing and growth is usually the outcome. Having that support person that knows what your experiencing is the quickest way to banish those feelings of fraud. Your accountability partner will call out your feelings of inadequacy and remind you that the voices in your head are just your brain’s way of keeping you safe and inside your comfort zone.
Let’s discuss this further in step 3.
Step 3: Become crystal clear on what is fact and what is fiction.
Anytime that you begin to feel like an impostor ask yourself this question, “Do I feel this way because of something I know for a fact or is it coming from a feeling of inadequacy?” When you have strong feelings about something it can feel very real, however, without something factual to back it up, it remains just a feeling. Knowing the difference between the two is the best way to break that cycle of negativity.
The last thing we want to share before we wrap up today is that most health coaches are carrying a huge burden on their shoulders thinking that they need to know everything about their niche so they can answer every single question someone asks them. This is a false belief and is not the case. Your role as a health coach is to be a trusted and reliable resource and sometimes that means simply saying, “I don’t know the answer to that question off the top of my head, but I have a network of colleagues that I can tap into to get the most up-to-date information on this topic.”
Your potential client will appreciate you doing the legwork for them and will never ever look at you as an imposter for not knowing the answer to their question.
If you’re feeling those pangs of self-doubt or imposter syndrome, just know that it’s a normal part of the process and it means you truly care about helping people. The more clients you work with, the more confidence you start to build – it’s all a process.
What helps you feel more confident as a coach?
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