5 steps to overcome CEO Imposter Syndrome

Everywhere I look at the moment, people are talking about imposter syndrome. So I thought I'd add my perspective on this as someone who talks with UK SME CEOs almost every day, and having been though the journey myself. Let's be very clear on the definition. Imposter Syndrome has two elements. Firstly, a deep held "secret belief" that one is in the wrong position, or somehow unqualified for the role. Secondly, a very real psychological fear that one day this truth will be revealed.

It's impact on an individual in the workplace can be a slowing down or inability to make decisions, a general lack of confidence, reduced productivity. However, those are trivial compared to the psychological impact on an individual, which can include stress, anxiety, decreased physical health including an increased risk of heart disease, reduced self confidence and burnout. Look at that list again. If you were about to take a pill that listed those as side effects you'd have to be VERY ill to even think about taking it. This is a hugely under realised problem in the workspace. Whilst I will leave the general workforce to my betters, I would like to talk about imposter syndrome in LEADERS, because that's what I was, still am, and deal with on a daily basis. Imposter Syndrome can smack hard on a leader. Let's look at why. Responsibility Not only have you got the standard out-of-the-box imposter syndrome of a worker, but you've also got responsibility for all of them weighing on your shoulders. Their well-being. Their performance. Their safety. Responsibility for their families. Their kids. Perhaps that's not all leaders, but it's certainly how I felt at every BreatheHR all-hands meeting. Then I would remember I'm also responsible for the survival, health and growth of the company. And my family. Yikes. It doesn't matter if you are a one-man band or a leader with thousands of employees the weight on your shoulders is enormous. You feel it. In my opinion, you SHOULD feel it, but it takes mental discipline to ensure that it doesn't cripple you. My best advice for leaders who experience imposter syndrome is to remind themselves now and again that there is literally no-one on the PLANET who has the knowledge needed to do the job they are in. Their experience and skills puts them in a position where they are likely the very BEST person to do the job they are in. It's lonely at the top Jonathan Richards, BreatheHR's original visionary, once said to me "It's lonely at the top". I laughed and we went about our day. Oh. My. God. What I should have done is go and make him a cup of tea and then ask him how I could make his day a little easier. He also once said to me that he felt we were both shouldering the weight of the company. In 25 years of knowing him it's the only time I heard him lie. He was very much doing the heavy lifting. Lonely doesn't begin to describe the isolation that is felt in the leadership role. A complete and necessary disconnect of workplace friendships. The vanishing of your social life and contacts in your total commitment to the drive for success. The complete lack of instantly accessible peers. You feel loneliness because you are, quite literally, alone in knowing the weight of your responsibility. Lack of Support In a company with a healthy culture, every employee has someone they can go to for advice on how to go about their specific challenge. Whether they are seeking assistance with a project or task, asking for a second opinion, or just to be a shoulder to lean in difficult times. A leader has none of this. He or she feels very unsupported because there is likely no-one they can go to in the business and say "help I don't know what I'm doing". Maintain that air of professionalism and confidence can be a challenge when you don't feel it.

Lack of Accountability.

Throughout my entire career I have heard people say variation on the theme of "It must be GREAT to be the boss because you don't have anyone holding you to account". I have even been guilty of it myself. The truth is not quite so obvious.

Being a leader without a boss is difficult. No-one warned me that the absence of a regular, effective, face-to-face one to one with my manager would be so crippling to my self discipline and productivity. The lack of accountability meant my work ethic slipped until I learned new ways to hold myself accountable, or have others hold me accountable.

I am passionate believer that all leaders need SOMEONE to hold them accountable. It takes the pressure off the leader holding themselves accountable and reduces self-doubt - the precursor to our old friend Imposter Syndrome.Now let's visit the flip side of the "no accountability" scenario. Who are we kidding. If the business fails YOU are accountable. At least in your own, so unforgiving, head. Pretty sure the Government, the legal system and the financial system believed I was very much ACCOUNTABLE during my time at Breathe. Also, many leaders might not have managers but they DO have people who hold them accountable. Boardrooms, shareholders. Investors. When people now suggest to me that leaders don't have accountability I simply reply with truth that I had never vomited before a meeting until I become a leader.

The 5 step Solution

1. Recognise the problem

2. Recognise your strengths

3. Give yourself credit

4. Accept perfection is unrealistic

5. Talk to your peers

1. Recognise the problem.

Half the solution with imposter syndrome is self awareness. Look for the following in yourself, especially in times of stress of pressure;

• feel like a fake or a fraud

• never feel good enough

• feel like you don’t belong

• are filled with self-doubt

• feel uncomfortable when people praise you

• have a habit of playing down your strengths

• find it hard to take credit for your accomplishments

Tick more than 1 or 2 of them off and you are staring down the barrel of imposter syndrome. Now you have a name for it, and something to google !

2. Recognise your strengths

I remember sitting in a meeting with about 10 people during a nightmare day at Breathe where everything seemed to be going wrong. The application had gone down that morning, and each time a new server was brought on stream, it failed. Something had changed but we didn't know what. I had to co-ordinate efforts of the R&D team with customer and partner communications, sales and finance. As the person directly responsible for handling the crisis I felt terribly exposed and out of my depth. However, when a big zoom meeting with the rest of the Leadership team a couple of people visibly relaxed to see me, and I realised that I WAS the cool head in the room. The person with the most business AND technical experience, and that I was REALLY good at bringing urgent projects to completion. After that the day became fun. Sometimes you just have to remind yourself that you are in the position you are in because you ARE the best person to be there. Write down your achievements. Make sure they are celebrated, because otherwise it can be a very thankless job at the top.

3. Give yourself credit.

In Breathe we had an employee of the month. This was usually a result of who most displayed the company values in the last month. We had a CEO award where a couple of people could win flights to Australia. We had one-off rewards for people that really went above and beyond. The list went on. Meanwhile I had no peer or supervisor positive feedback on a regular basis. Write down your achievements. Make sure they are celebrated, because otherwise it can be a very thankless job at the top. Make sure your personal goals and objectives are highlighted along with everyone else's and celebrated when you smash it out of the park.

4. Accept that perfection is unrealistic.

The 80% rule is your friend here. The effort to get that last 20% right, or build a product that pleases EVERYONE, is usually not worth it, so develop the capability of knowing when to push for perfection in yourself and others, and when to be like Elsa, and just let it go. This is a tricky one, because as leaders we get very good at giving credit to others. Just remember that you are perfectly entitled to take credit for YOUR accomplishments.

5. Talk to your peers.

The solution to this one is easy. Stop being quite so alone. Become part of a regular peer-group. These are groups that meet on a regular (often monthly) and are restricted to leaders who have been vetted to ensure they will add value to the group - and fit in. These are a place to be open and honest about your worries, fears, angers, problems. You'll find your concerns are shared by many others, and the group can advise on how to handle your problems and bottlenecks. They can even hold you accountable to your hopes and dreams, something a leader often lacks. It's so rewarding to be in a place where you can share your deepest fears and personal worries. A space where you can just be yourself and honest about how you feel. It's even nicer to hear that everyone around the table feels the same way. Drop me a line at gareth@lumoadvisors.com if you would like more information on this.