Do you have imposter syndrome?
Do you have imposter syndrome?
Do you have imposter syndrome?
She walked onto the court, nervous, apprehensive, and insecure. She thought, “What am I doing here? I don’t belong. I’ve just been lucky.” Despite holding numerous Grand Slam titles and being known as one of the greatest athletes of all time, Serena Williams admits she struggles with the phenomenon known as the imposter syndrome.
Do you have imposter syndrome?
If so, you’re not alone.
Imposter syndrome occurs when you doubt your strengths, skills, and accomplishments, have a fear of being perceived as a fraud, and feel inadequate, even though there is plenty of evidence that proves otherwise.
If you feel fear and self-doubt, you are in good company. So do I. So do most people, regardless of age, culture, or gender, education, and experience. In fact, it’s estimated that 70% of the population suffers from imposter syndrome at one point or another.
Imposter syndrome isn’t a mental illness or moral weakness. It is a pattern of thinking, a habit that serves as a coping mechanism, even if it’s not helpful.
When I experience imposter syndrome (which happens all the time), here are a few things I try to remember:
The first step is recognition. Pay attention to people and situations that trigger your feelings of inadequacy. When you can train yourself to recognize it’s happening, you can proactively create a plan before going into those situations. For example, if meeting with senior executives brings out your insecurities, how can you prepare for that meeting differently? Coach yourself before you go into the discussion. Breathe, remember that we all put our pants on one leg at a time, and give yourself some grace.
Cultivate a growth mindset. Rather than trying to look smart, someone with a growth mindset focuses on getting smarter. Rather than striving for perfection, you strive to become better than you were before. A growth mindset allows you to use fear as fuel and the feeling of discomfort as a catalyst for growth. This doesn’t mean you don’t have self-doubt but that you learn to use it to improve.
Learn to talk to yourself, not just listen to yourself. We all have self-defeating voices in our heads. Having them is normal. Listening to them is a choice. Create a habit of speaking to yourself as you would with a friend or someone you care about. I have a picture of me as a little girl on my bathroom mirror. If I wouldn’t say it to little Annie, I shouldn’t say it to myself now. This helps you normalize self-doubt and recognize that these feelings are completely normal and part of the human experience.
Look at the evidence. There is plenty of evidence that you are not, in fact, an imposter. You’re no slouch, and you wouldn’t be where you are if you were incapable. Remember your strengths, accomplishments, and the things that matter most to you. The people who love and care about you know you are pretty incredible. Trust them.
Take action. Is there a skill you can learn, a stretch project you can volunteer for, a class you can take? Sometimes the best antidote to insecurity is to tackle something that scares you, learn something new, or build a new set of skills. All of these things add to self-confidence and remind you that you are more than capable.
Don’t forget to celebrate and reflect on your successes along the way. We are all a work in progress. Your teammates are insecure. The senior executives at your company are insecure. Even Serena Williams is insecure. Just remember, we are all doing the best we can each day to navigate this journey called life.
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Anne breaks down the daily habits and skills needed to grow and cultivate RESILIENCE.
I had an incredible time chatting with @dr.cindyspeaks on Positively Altered about one of my favorite topics >> resilience!
💪 We covered everything from how stress affects the brain to actionable strategies for resetting your resilience and reclaiming balance. Plus… we even talked donkeys!
🎧 Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-23-the-resilience-reset-transforming-stress/id1773804535?i=1000699134975
In this episode, we dive into:
🧠 How to train your brain for resilience
😩 The power of sitting in the “suck”
💡 Simple strategies to reset stress and find balance
If you’re ready to transform stress into strength, this one’s for you!
What is on your to-do list for the week? ✅
I’m sure it includes meetings, tasks, personal chores, and follow-ups, but does it include things that bring you joy?
Instead of waiting for happiness, create it.. You can even focus on enjoyable things while doing the have-to do things.
Slogging through paperwork? Light a candle and listen to your favorite tunes.
Going for a drive? Listen to a stand-up comic or a great book.
Don’t neglect what brings you joy and happiness—make it a ritual and part of your resilience-building routine.
You know that heart-stopping moment when you try to change lanes, only to realize that someone is in your blind spot?
Blind spots aren’t just for driving. In life and leadership, we all have blind spots—things others see clearly that we don’t.
The tricky part? Blind spots aren’t always glaring flaws. Often, they’re our good intentions getting lost in translation. So, how do you uncover them?
Here’s a simple twist that will make a big difference: Ask for advice instead of feedback. 🗣
This slight shift makes people more likely to offer constructive, actionable insights—without triggering defensiveness. Plus, it builds trust and strengthens relationships.
Rather than trying to make drastic changes, pick one behavior and integrate it into your day.
Want to start a gratitude practice? Do it while you brush your teeth. Want to take deep breaths? Practice while you make coffee. Adding a new habit to an existing one makes it easier to stick with it.
#mindfulmonday #habitstacking #atomichabits #jamesclear
Humor changes your biochemistry, emotions, thoughts, and behavior. 😆
A positive mood boosts your immune system! Whether you find your laughter through being around friends, going to a comedy show, watching funny movies, or just being goofy, don’t underestimate the power of a belly laugh and a sense of humor.
When something stressful happens, there are really 2 different things taking place.
There’s the thing that is happening, and then there is the story that you tell yourself about the thing that’s happening.
The story is where criticism, judgment, self-doubt, and shame come in.
Whatever you have going on in your life right now, take a step back and try to view it from a third-person perspective. See if you can separate the facts from the story you tell yourself about it.
If we can start to separate the situation from the story, the story becomes much less scary because we realize it is one we’re telling.
This makes it easier to accept where you are without judgment, self-doubt, and shame. What we practice grows stronger. 📕

Anne Grady is a Speaker, Author, and #TruthBomb Dropper.
Anne shares practical strategies that can be applied both personally and professionally to improve relationships, navigate change, and triumph over adversity. And she’ll make you laugh while she does it. Anne is a two time TEDx speaker, and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fast Company and Inc. magazines, CNN, ESPN, and FOX Business. She is the best selling author of 52 Strategies for Life, Love & Work and Strong Enough: Choosing Courage, Resilience and Triumph.