Beyond Imposter Syndrome

Imposter Syndrome, that awful feeling that you're not as good as you should be, often steals away our confidence. When we do achieve success strangely we still feel that we're not as good as many of our colleagues seem to think we are and we wonder when will we be found out?This strange phenomenon is surprisingly common and affects both men and women. As a result of Imposter Syndrome many very able women frequently experience stress and anxiety. Determined to hide the fact that they feel like an imposter, many are driven by performance-related perfectionism and are crippled by self-criticism.The origins of imposter syndrome are varied as are the solutions, many of which are discussed in this book. Because personal development is personal, we each need to select the combination of tools and approaches that works for us. To journey beyond imposter syndrome we need courage to know ourselves honestly as we tell our own stories and also compassion to treat ourselves gently as we grow. Moving beyond imposter syndrome doesn't mean we walk out perfect, shiny and bullet-proof. It does mean that we accept the truth of who we are, secure in the knowledge that we are enough.

Stop letting impostor syndrome hold you back! This guided workbook of interactive exercises and research-backed activities will help you conquer self-doubt, realize your true worth, and enjoy your success. How many times have you thought that everyone is crushing it except you? How often have you looked at one of your accomplishments and attributed it to luck or the help of others? It can be difficult to acknowledge our own successes and skills, and overcome the feeling of being an impostor. But moving past that feeling is crucial to continuing down the path to even greater success and happiness. Own Your Greatness will give you all the tools you need to recognize and overcome the impostor syndrome that is holding you back. Packed full of research- and therapy-backed exercises, prompts, and activities, this interactive workbook will help you: Identify the root causes of your impostor syndrome Recognize your natural skills and strengths Gain the confidence to lead Speak up for yourself Feel comfortable receiving and giving praise With this book, you’ll acknowledge the skills you bring to the table, understand that you truly deserve your success, and take steps to a successful, happy, and fulfilled life.

Leading is hard enough without lying awake at 3 a.m. worrying that 'they' might find out you're not good enough. Or that you don't know as much as you should. Or that they might suss you're a fraud, you don't belong and got to where you are by accident or luck. There's a name for this: Imposter Syndrome - and it's time to ditch it! In this ground-breaking book, Clare Josa guides you through the revolutionary five-step strategy she has created over the past fifteen years of mentoring women in leadership roles, so that you can set yourself free from Imposter Syndrome, for good. With the inspirational, practical techniques Clare shares with you, you will learn how to: stop negative self-talk, without going to war with the inner critic voice in your head wave goodbye to the self-doubt, limiting beliefs, perfectionism and procrastination that sabotage your personal & professional success feel naturally resilient and bounce back from conflict and criticism - without pretending or losing sleep with midnight self-talk rants discover the power of true confidence finally feel safe to take off your secret masks, without having to 'fake it till you make it' feel happier, calmer and more in-flow, rather than feeling like life is an uphill struggle influence authentically and show up as the leader you were born to be, so you can make the difference you are really here to make in the world In Ditching Imposter Syndrome you'll discover why mindset-based, cognitive approaches haven't worked for you in the past and exactly how Imposter Syndrome affects your performance and causes so much stress - and worse. Clare's inspirational, practical exercises bring you the best from the worlds of practical psychology, NLP, Leadership Development, the neuroscience of performance, and demystified ancient wisdom. This is blended into simple steps that mean you can spot and release Imposter Syndrome's deeply subconscious drivers, in a way that's fast, fun and forever. If you're hungry to move from the fear of being found out as a 'fraud leader' to becoming the 'thought leader' the world needs you to be, the practical strategies in Ditching Imposter Syndrome will help you to create breakthroughs in minutes, not months. Is it time to finally start ditching Imposter Syndrome? Buy your copy today!About The Author Clare Josa is considered the UK's leading authority on Imposter Syndrome, having spent the past fifteen years working with business leaders to help them to overcome it, as well as leading the landmark 2019 Imposter Syndrome Research Study and publishing her new book: Ditching Imposter Syndrome. An expert in the neuroscience and psychology of performance, her original training as an engineer means her inspirational approach is grounded in practical common sense, creating breakthroughs not burnout. She makes changing your life fast, fun and forever. She is the author of eight books and has been interviewed by the likes of The Independent, The Daily Telegraph and Radio 4, amongst others. Clare speaks internationally on how to change the world by changing yourself.

Learn to take ownership of your success, overcome self-doubt, and banish the thought patterns that undermine your ability to feel—and act—as bright and capable as others already know you are with this award-winning book by Valerie Young. It’s only because they like me. I was in the right place at the right time. I just work harder than the others. I don’t deserve this. It’s just a matter of time before I am found out. Someone must have made a terrible mistake. If you are a working woman, chances are this inter­nal monologue sounds all too familiar. And you’re not alone. From the high-achieving Ph.D. candidate convinced she’s only been admitted to the program because of a clerical error to the senior executive who worries others will find out she’s in way over her head, a shocking number of accomplished women in all ca­reer paths and at every level feel as though they are faking it—impostors in their own lives and careers. While the impostor syndrome is not unique to women, women are more apt to agonize over tiny mistakes, see even constructive criticism as evi­dence of their shortcomings, and chalk up their accomplishments to luck rather than skill. They often unconsciously overcompensate with crippling perfec­tionism, overpreparation, maintaining a lower pro­file, withholding their talents and opinions, or never finishing important projects. When they do succeed, they think, Phew, I fooled ’em again. An internationally known speaker, Valerie Young has devoted her career to understanding women’s most deeply held beliefs about themselves and their success. In her decades of in-the-trenches research, she has uncovered the often surprising reasons why so many accomplished women experience this crushing self-doubt. In The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women, Young gives these women the solution they have been seek­ing. Combining insightful analysis with effective ad­vice and anecdotes, she explains what the impostor syndrome is, why fraud fears are more common in women, and how you can recognize the way it mani­fests in your life.

A newly updated edition for 2024 'You've definitely heard of it, you've almost certainly felt it and it's actively stopping you from being your best self. In a new book on imposter syndrome Dr Jessamy Hibberd provides a definitive guide to understanding and tackling the psychological mind trap.' - The Sunday Times 'Dr Jessamy teaches you the tools to break free from those self-sabotaging thought patterns that are holding you back from your own success.' - Hazel Wallace, The Food Medic 'If you suffer from imposter syndrome, this is definitely a must-read!' - Goodreads reviewer 'I have suffered with imposter syndrome my entire life [...] In the few days I have been reading this book I have done an almost complete 180.' - Goodreads reviewer Imposter syndrome is a phenomenon in which people believe they are not worthy of success. They convince themselves that they have done well due to luck and are terrified their shortcomings will eventually be exposed, making it impossible to enjoy their accomplishments. The Imposter Cure explores the psychological impact of imposter syndrome and exposes the secrets fears and insecurities felt by millions of men and women. Dr Jessamy Hibberd provides sound expert advice to help the reader better understand the problem and overcome it, so they think differently, gain self-belief and learn to see themselves as others do. Filled with case studies to bring the concepts alive and packed with strategies to increase confidence, this book is a must-read for anyone who has struggled with their achievements.

Start living with greater courage, confidence, and authenticity! Do you ever worry that you aren’t good enough or capable enough, despite your many accomplishments? Have you achieved high levels of success, yet still feel as though you’re just “faking it?” If so, you might be dealing with imposter anxiety—a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Remember, you are not alone. Too often, highly talented individuals allow imposter anxiety to distort their views of themselves. So, how can you embrace your boundless potential and forge ahead with confidence? In Overcoming Imposter Anxiety, you’ll find strategies grounded in liberation psychology and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help you stand up to self-doubt, alleviate fear of failure, and live with authenticity. You’ll also identify the root cause of your self-sabotaging behaviors, and shift your mindset to honor your achievements and affirm your strengths. If you’re ready to move beyond self-limiting beliefs and start living life with greater courage and self-worth, this book will help guide you, step by step. Discover tools to help you: Manage self-doubting thoughts and feelings Overcome your fear of failure Leverage your unique qualities Build an encouraging support network

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Brené Brown has taught us what it means to dare greatly, rise strong, and brave the wilderness. Now, based on new research conducted with leaders, change makers, and culture shifters, she’s showing us how to put those ideas into practice so we can step up and lead. Don’t miss the five-part HBO Max docuseries Brené Brown: Atlas of the Heart! NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY BLOOMBERG Leadership is not about titles, status, and wielding power. A leader is anyone who takes responsibility for recognizing the potential in people and ideas, and has the courage to develop that potential. When we dare to lead, we don’t pretend to have the right answers; we stay curious and ask the right questions. We don’t see power as finite and hoard it; we know that power becomes infinite when we share it with others. We don’t avoid difficult conversations and situations; we lean into vulnerability when it’s necessary to do good work. But daring leadership in a culture defined by scarcity, fear, and uncertainty requires skill-building around traits that are deeply and uniquely human. The irony is that we’re choosing not to invest in developing the hearts and minds of leaders at the exact same time as we’re scrambling to figure out what we have to offer that machines and AI can’t do better and faster. What can we do better? Empathy, connection, and courage, to start. Four-time #1 New York Times bestselling author Brené Brown has spent the past two decades studying the emotions and experiences that give meaning to our lives, and the past seven years working with transformative leaders and teams spanning the globe. She found that leaders in organizations ranging from small entrepreneurial startups and family-owned businesses to nonprofits, civic organizations, and Fortune 50 companies all ask the same question: How do you cultivate braver, more daring leaders, and how do you embed the value of courage in your culture? In this new book, Brown uses research, stories, and examples to answer these questions in the no-BS style that millions of readers have come to expect and love. Brown writes, “One of the most important findings of my career is that daring leadership is a collection of four skill sets that are 100 percent teachable, observable, and measurable. It’s learning and unlearning that requires brave work, tough conversations, and showing up with your whole heart. Easy? No. Because choosing courage over comfort is not always our default. Worth it? Always. We want to be brave with our lives and our work. It’s why we’re here.” Whether you’ve read Daring Greatly and Rising Strong or you’re new to Brené Brown’s work, this book is for anyone who wants to step up and into brave leadership.

A Good Morning America Buzz Pick * Named A Best Book of Summer by Entertainment Weekly,New York Post, Buzzfeed, TheSkimm, PopSugar, Bustle, HelloGiggles, Ms. Magazine, Oprah Daily, USA Today, Philadelphia Inquirer, Lit Hub * Named A Most Anticipated Book of 2021 by The Millions, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, Crimereads A sharp and prescient novel about women in the workplace, the power of Big Tech, and the looming threat of foreign espionage from Kathy Wang, “a skilled satirist of the northern California dream” (Harper’s Bazaar) In 2006 Julia Lerner is living in Moscow, a recent university graduate in computer science, when she’s recruited by Russia’s largest intelligence agency. By 2018 she’s in Silicon Valley as COO of Tangerine, one of America’s most famous technology companies. In between her executive management (make offers to promising startups, crush them and copy their features if they refuse); self promotion (check out her latest op-ed in the WSJ, on Work/Life Balance 2.0); and work in gender equality (transfer the most annoying females from her team), she funnels intelligence back to the motherland. But now Russia's asking for more, and Julia’s getting nervous. Alice Lu is a first generation Chinese American whose parents are delighted she’s working at Tangerine (such a successful company!). Too bad she’s slogging away in the lower echelons, recently dumped, and now sharing her expensive two-bedroom apartment with her cousin Cheri, a perennial “founder’s girlfriend”. One afternoon, while performing a server check, Alice discovers some unusual activity, and now she’s burdened with two powerful but distressing suspicions: Tangerine’s privacy settings aren’t as rigorous as the company claims they are, and the person abusing this loophole might be Julia Lerner herself. The closer Alice gets to Julia, the more Julia questions her own loyalties. Russia may have placed her in the Valley, but she's the one who built her career; isn’t she entitled to protect the lifestyle she’s earned? Part page-turning cat-and-mouse chase, part sharp and hilarious satire, Impostor Syndrome is a shrewdly-observed examination of women in tech, Silicon Valley hubris, and the rarely fulfilled but ever-attractive promise of the American Dream.