Everyone says "fake it till you make it," but I disagree.

Everyone says "fake it till you make it," but I disagree.

Without inner work, you're just performing someone else's playbook.

"I often feel I don't deserve my job."

This is how a new coaching client opened our session a few months ago, who just before started a new role in a Swiss mid-size company. She was leading a team, getting great feedback, and already making positive changes in her department.

But in our first session, she told me: "I honestly don't know how I got this job. My boss will probably figure out soon that I'm not good enough."

Sounds familiar? The data shows 70% of us have felt this way.

⇉ 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐭—𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤.

On a personal note, it is very relatable for me what she is going through. She would tell me about successfully handling a difficult situation, then immediately add, "But anyone could have done that."

So I asked her: "What could we celebrate? What little successes and wins have you had?" She waited a bit to answer, then went on listing for 10 minutes straight. After she finished, she looked up shocked: "I didn't realize I'd done all this."

After three months of coaching, she told me something that showed just how much her mindset shifter: "I stopped asking if I belong here. Now I ask how I can contribute more."

It's going well for her. She sees a path ahead and she is not asking for permission to be successful

What changed?

• Someone who celebrates wins instead of dismissing them
• A leader who sees challenges as growth, not proof of inadequacy
• A person who knows that belonging isn't about being perfect

When did you last celebrate something you accomplished?

#change #impostersyndrome #coaching #selfdoubt