What Is The Real Cost Of Imposter Syndrome

Imposter Syndrome is often experienced through feelings of inadequacy, not feeling as deserving as others, or having the right to speak up, contribute and be heard.

Imposter Syndrome looks like me googling what Imposter Syndrome is, the night before speaking about it to a group of 100 women, full while knowing it is a subject I know, inside out.

Imposter Syndrome can make even the most capable people feel like frauds, consumed by fear their success can and will be taken away. Despite many proud achievements, including founding a multi-award winning, nationally recognised law firm at age 28, I experienced firsthand the devastating impacts of what is the greatest energy vampire of all time.

Imposter Syndrome originates within the person themselves, no doubt thanks to our cultural norm of placing significant emphasis on mistakes and inadequacies, while labelling any signs of confidence and self-worth as arrogant. Imposter Syndrome is further fuelled by leaders, bosses, clients and peers every time an idea is instinctively shut down, a perspective is dismissed or a creative solution is never given the opportunity to be explored. 

How many ideas, perspectives and solutions are never uttered, because people feel unworthy, unjustified or like a fraud? What is the opportunity cost to business when those around us shut down opinions, solutions, or ideas without a moment’s thought? What problems could we be solving in business through becoming aware of Imposter Syndrome and its limiting and costly nature? Perhaps the first problem we will solve, is that of Imposter Syndrome itself.

The story that follows is set in the legal industry, where respect is akin to respect when I was a child. It is irrelevant whether the person demanding it has earned it, no one dares to point out it might not be deserved, and the fact that demanding respect is an oxymoron to the very definition, counts for very little.

During my last legal Mediation before starting my coaching business, Imposter Syndrome reared its head in the form of a particular senior Barrister who was set on a strategy, despite it not considering all the relevant factors of our client.  

I knew the strategy was not the right one. The right strategy required the consideration of the law, as well as the client’s factual and emotional matrix. Given the previously mentioned culture of respect in the legal industry, my Imposter Syndrome remnants were triple checking with me at the time that it was, in fact, my place to speak up.

Reminding Imposter Syndrome I was in the same room as the Barrister, I pushed through the discomfort, spoke up and we collaborated and left that room with a winning strategy which never would have been possible, had I stayed silent and let Imposter Syndrome win. 

So two years on, why did I feel the need to ask Chat GPT about this opinion piece? And why was I rattled by its comment, “some parts may come across as slightly self-congratulatory, which could be off-putting for some readers”?

Would this be yet another instance where a worthy opinion isn’t expressed? Not today, and not on my watch.

Perhaps it is time for you to admit the costly and limiting nature of Imposter Syndrome to you.

Who knows what powerful outcomes could unfold.