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Impostor Syndrome

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Symptoms

and Techniques to Overcome it

Your Coachee doubts his/her accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a "fraud".

3 Key Strengths

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​People who use their strengths every day are:

  • 3 times more likely to report having an excellent quality of life, 

  • 6 times more likely to be engaged at work,

  • 8% more productive,

  • 15% less likely to quit their jobs.

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Ask your Coachee to identify his/her key strengths:

What does your Coachee gets complimented on? What do his/her friends value? What do colleagues or boss value? What does your Coachee like about himself/herself? When does he/she feel in the flow?

GoMasterCoach app, including Strengths

The Life Map

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The Life Map is an introspective tool that enables your Coachee to look back at past stories professional experiences and key life milestones, highlighting the benefits from each of your experiences and identify any trends in your life. 

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Ask your Coachee to draw a visual timeline ranking the happiness level for each milestone. Analyse the sources of successes (reframing if need be, for example, when your coachee mentions luck). Analyse also how he/she managed to bounce back from lows.

GoMasterCoach app, including Life Map

The 360

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The Impostor Syndrome Gap is the difference between the perception of self and how others see the person. The 360 may help bridge that gap.

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Ask your Coachee of 5 people whose opinion he/she respects and trusts. Ask them for a 360 feedback. For example: what are the coachee's key strengths, achievements, what they value the most about your coachee and one area of improvement.

GoMasterCoach app, including 360

Common Symptoms

  • A lack of self-confidence, anxiety, doubts about their abilities and achievements

  • Feeling that other people have an overinflated view of them

  • Attributing any success to luck or just being in the right place at the right time

  • Feeling like a fraud / not feeling good enough

  • Being fearful of being “found out” as a fraud

  • Negative self-talk

  • Feelings of inadequacy, that they don't belong where they are

  • Dwelling on past mistakes

  • Having an inability to internalise accomplishments

  • Believing that the very fact that they got the job means that it can’t be that difficult

  • Looking more at what they can’t do, rather than valuing what they can do

3 Techniques

to Help Overcome Impostor Syndrome

  • The Impostor Syndrome: Becoming an Authentic Leader, by Harold Hillman, Chris Abernathy, et al

  • The Mindfulness Workbook for Addiction: A Guide to Coping with the Grief, Stress and Anger that Trigger Addictive Behaviors (A New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook), by Rebecca E. Williams PhD and Julie S. Kraft MA

  • Coach's Casebook, by Kim Morgan

  • Compassion for All Creatures, by Janice Gray Kolb

  • Perfectionism: A Practical Guide to Managing "Never Good Enough", by Lisa Van Gemert

  • The Fulfillment of All Desire, by Ralph Martin

  • Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment, by Tal Ben-Shahar

  • The Disease To Please: Curing the People-Pleasing Syndrome, by Harriet B. Braiker

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