By: Derek Doyle, Senior Director, C2 Strategic Communications
Have you ever achieved something big, only to feel like it wasn’t really yours to claim? Maybe you landed the promotion, led the meeting, signed the deal or finally got the professional recognition … and yet, there it was again: the quiet hum of self-doubt whispering, “Are you sure you’re good enough for this?”
That feeling has a name. Imposter syndrome.
Once dismissed as a fleeting mindset, imposter syndrome is now recognized as a widespread experience, especially among high achievers. In a 2024 Korn Ferry survey, 71 percent of U.S. CEOs and 65 percent of senior executives admitted to struggling with it throughout their careers. In other words, you’re not alone, and you’re not imagining it.
As our understanding of the issue deepens, we must address the causal factors and determine how we can break the cycle.
Why We Still Feel Like Fakes (Even When We’re Winning)
Perfectionism in a Hyper-Visible World
The digital era has amplified expectations. We’re constantly measuring ourselves against curated successes on LinkedIn and industry practices. That pressure to perform perfectly, and publicly, can lead even the most confident leaders to question their competence.
Representation Matters
A 2023 KPMG report found that 75 percent of female executives felt unqualified for their roles, even though they had the right experience. That number jumps among Black, Indigenous and other women of color. When you rarely see people who look like you in leadership, the message can be subtle but persistent: You’re an exception. A guest. An outsider.
Success Does Not Equal Safety
Most surprisingly, research now suggests that achieving success doesn’t eliminate imposter syndrome — it can heighten it. Psychologist Dr. Valerie Young of the Imposter Syndrome Institute points out that the more you accomplish, the more pressure you may feel to prove you deserve it.
The New Way Forward: From ‘Overcoming’ to ‘Reframing’
Imposter syndrome isn’t a flaw to fix.
It’s a signal.
A signpost pointing to a moment of growth.
Instead of simply overcoming it, what if we reframed it?
1. Put Facts Over Feelings
Just because you feel like a fraud doesn’t mean you are one.
Remember the data. Remember the facts. Remind yourself why you deserve the promotion — why you’re the one who should lead the meeting, sign the deal and be recognized for all the hard work you have put in.
Get comfortable with the discomfort of growth. It’s often a sign that you’re stretching into a new version of yourself and taking your ability to the next level.
2. Track the Evidence
Start keeping a “confidence file,” a folder of positive feedback, personal wins or work that made you proud. On tough days, it’s a powerful reminder: You’ve done this before, and you can do it again.
3. Speak It Out Loud
Imposter syndrome thrives in silence. Share your experience with a mentor, coach or trusted peer. Chances are, they’ve felt it, too. Naming it out loud breaks its grip.
4. Redefine “Competence”
Our culture glorifies knowing everything, but leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking the right questions, surrounding yourself with smart people and leading with curiosity, not certainty.
5. Systemic Change Starts with Culture
Organizations play a role, too. Combating imposter syndrome means designing workplaces where people feel seen, supported and celebrated for who they are, not just what they produce.
You Earned This
If you’re in the room, it’s not by accident. Your work, your story, your growth — all of it led you here. And while the doubt may never fully go away, your ability to move forward despite it is what makes you a force to be reckoned with.
Imposter syndrome will rear its ugly head from time to time, but it doesn’t get to decide your future. You do.
