Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: How to Stop Doubting Your Success and Own Your Career Wins

 Have You Ever Felt Like a Fraud in Your Career?

You land a new job, get a promotion, or receive glowing feedback from a manager. You should feel proud. Instead, a small (but loud) voice in your head whispers, “They’re going to find out I don’t actually know what I’m doing.” Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

This feeling has a name: Imposter Syndrome—and it’s incredibly common among women in the workplace. Even the most successful women, from Maya Angelou to Sheryl Sandberg, have admitted to feeling like they don’t truly deserve their achievements (Kay & Shipman, 2014). The good news? Imposter Syndrome is a mindset, not a fact. And you can overcome it.

What Is Imposter Syndrome, and Why Does It Show Up?

Dr. Pauline Clance and Dr. Suzanne Imes (1978) first coined the term Imposter Phenomenon when they noticed that high-achieving women often attributed their success to luck rather than ability. More recent research has shown that imposter syndrome disproportionately affects women in male-dominated fields, women of colour, and those stepping into leadership roles (Bravata et al., 2020).

Signs You Might Be Struggling with Imposter Syndrome

• Feeling like your achievements are due to luck, timing, or external factors.
• Avoiding new opportunities because you don’t feel “ready” or “qualified.”
• Downplaying your success or fearing others will “find out” you’re not as competent as they think.
• Overworking to prove your worth leading to stress and burnout.

The Five Types of Imposter Syndrome (Dr. Valerie Young, 2011)

Understanding how imposter syndrome shows up for you is the first step to overcoming it. According to Dr. Valerie Young, people with imposter syndrome tend to fall into one (or more) of these categories:

1. The Perfectionist: Believes anything less than 100% is a failure. Struggles with delegating and sets impossibly high standards.
2. The Superwoman: Works harder than everyone else to “prove” their worth. Feels guilty when taking breaks.
3. The Natural Genius: Believes success should come effortlessly. If they struggle, they assume they’re not good enough.
4. The Soloist: Prefers to work alone and struggles to ask for help, fearing it will expose their “incompetence.”
5. The Expert: Feels like they never know “enough” to be truly qualified. Constantly pursues more training, certifications, or degrees.

How to Reframe Imposter Thoughts and Step into Confidence

1. Rewire Your Inner Narrative
   The next time you think, “I don’t belong here,” challenge that thought with facts. Ask yourself:

• What skills and experiences helped me get here?
• What evidence do I have that I am capable?
• If a friend said this about herself, what would I tell her?

Reframe: “I don’t know enough to be in this role.” → “I am always learning, and my unique skills bring value.”

2. Track Your Achievements with a Confidence Resume
   Women tend to downplay their success, which only reinforces self-doubt. Keep a Confidence Resume—a private list of your wins, skills, and strengths. This isn’t for job hunting; it’s for you to revisit when self-doubt creeps in.

Activity: Write down three career wins from the past year. What strengths helped you achieve them?

3. Take Action Before You Feel Ready
   Many women hesitate to apply for a job or take on leadership roles unless they feel 100% qualified (Hewlett-Packard Study, 2014). But confidence isn’t built through waiting—it grows through action.

Activity: Identify one action you’ve been avoiding due to self-doubt. Break it into three small steps and commit to taking the first one this week.

4. Ask for (and Accept) Support
   The Soloist mindset tells us that asking for help is a sign of weakness. In reality, strong leaders seek input, mentorship, and support.

Reframe: “If I ask for help, they’ll think I’m not capable.” → “Successful people ask for help all the time—that’s how they grow.”

Action Step: Reach out to a mentor, colleague, or networking group this week. Ask for insights, not validation.

Moving Forward: Your Confidence Reboot Plan

• Recognize when imposter syndrome shows up. Notice the thoughts and name them.
• Reframe the narrative. Shift your self-talk to be more self-supporting.
• Build a habit of tracking your wins. Keep a Confidence Resume and revisit it regularly.
• Take action despite fear. Confidence follows action, not the other way around.

You Belong Here. Own It.

If imposter syndrome has been holding you back, remember this: Your success is not an accident. You are not an imposter. You are capable, experienced, and worthy of every opportunity that comes your way. The key is not to eliminate fear but to move forward despite it.

Want more career confidence strategies? Join my Confidence Challenge or book a Career Coaching Session today!

References

Bravata, D. M., Watts, S. A., Keefer, A. L., Madhusudhan, D. K., Taylor, K. T., Clark, D. M., Cokley, K. O., & Hagg, H. K. (2020). Prevalence, predictors, and treatment of imposter syndrome: A systematic review. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 35(4), 1252-1275. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-019-05364-1

Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The imposter phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 15(3), 241-247. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0086006

Kay, K., & Shipman, C. (2014). The confidence code: The science and art of self-assurance—what women should know. Harper Business.

Young, V. (2011). The secret thoughts of successful women: Why capable people suffer from the imposter syndrome and how to thrive in spite of it. Crown Business.