There’s a name for that feeling you get sometimes; the one where you don’t quite believe you deserve your success, or that you haven’t quite earned the right to be in a certain position. Maybe you aren’t actually as good as others think you are, or aren’t really capable or competent to lead a team/publicly speak on a topic/train others in an area you are penned as an expert in?

It’s called "Imposter Syndrome", or the "Imposter Phenomenon". 

It’s where you downplay or doubt your own abilities and accomplishments, and unfortunately these feelings can lead to fear, or an overwhelming feeling of inadequacy. Imposter Syndrome, on the surface of it, presents like a very negative thing.

A phenomenon initially coined in 1978 and observed in high achieving women, Imposter Syndrome can actually be experienced by anyone, at any time.

Traditional gender roles can mean that men find it harder to discuss feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt or show what they perceive as weakness, therefore giving the impression that it is a female-dominant problem. This, however, is certainly not true.

The reason we feel Imposter Syndrome can be different for everyone who experiences it, but it’s generally thought to come from a combination of perceived social pressures (for example working in a competitive workplace), personality traits (like perfectionism, OCD, or a need for control/anxiety), or even upbringing and family dynamics, including negative feelings about the self, based on the protected characteristics held. 

So how do we reposition Imposter Syndrome to make a positive out of it, to carve out those feelings of inadequacy and turn them into a strength as leaders? 

The CIPD’s online journal People Management recently debated just this issue in a September 2025 article drawing on the words of New Zealand’s former prime minister, Dame Jacinda Ardern. The way that Imposter Syndrome presented for her was to leave her feeling unprepared, scared of taking risks, and like she needed the help and support of others to achieve things.

But she went on to ask the question,

“isn’t preparation in leadership a good thing? isn’t anticipating risk a good thing, isn’t a willingness to seek the advice of others a good thing?” 

Researching a role, an issue, a subject, shows strength in your willingness to continually learn and educate yourself - your commitment to your professional development. 

Anticipating risk shows strength in your caution and advance planning for any eventuality, in being prepared to react to a hazard or danger.

Humility shows strength in your ability to be realistic and self-aware, without pride, arrogance or self-deprecation.

Seeking the advice of others shows strength in your readiness to take on board new perspectives, and acknowledge the experience and expertise in those around you, using knowledge that you may not yet have.

It’s not always easy to take a negative feeling and turn it into a positive. The mark of a truly strong leader is the ability to look beyond Imposter Syndrome and to take those feelings and turn them into something inspiring. Some ways this can be achieved include:

• Research and preparation – ensuring that you are confident with the remit of a role or task will help you feel in control and comfortable, and therefore less to feel like an imposter.
• Self-reflection and reframing negative thoughts – turn a thought such as ‘I’m not good enough to do this’ into ‘I’m excited to learn how to excel at this’. Whilst difficult to do, it’s a powerful tactic to take ownership of your feelings and start to exude the positivity and confidence to overcome Imposter Syndrome.
• Affirmations – finding a mantra, or an affirmation, that resonates with you and encourages you is a great way to build confidence, for example ‘I am worthy of my position’, ‘I am knowledgeable’ or ‘I am brave’. Say this to yourself several times a day, and concentrate on the words as you say them; eventually you will start to believe them and conduct yourself as such.
• Looking after your general health and wellbeing – making sure that you have enough sleep, eat well and exercise is crucial for success. It’s easy to allow the negative thoughts to take over whilst you are sleep deprived, or hungry – we all know that hanger is a very real thing! Ensuring that you are as healthy and as happy in yourself as you can be will make it much easier to reframe the negative and turn it into positive
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – reaching out for professional help if the negative feelings of inadequacy or of being a fraud feel like they are taking over, or that you cannot possibly overcome them, is exceptionally important. There is no shame in admitting you need help, and as touched on earlier in this article, being able to admit you need help and reach out for it is exceptionally strong behaviour, even when it might not feel like it. CBT can help you to identify cognitive distortions and reframe your thoughts over time, using tried and tested techniques.

Thornfields have a variety of courses focussed on improving leadership abilities and resilience for organisations and individuals such as Bringing Your Whole Self to Work – How to Thrive, Emotional Intelligence and Personal Resilience, and our suite of ILM Qualifications.