Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Embracing Your Brilliance
In my book, It’s Your Time to Shine Girl, I share the story of how I struggled with imposter syndrome big time when I received a full scholarship to attend Cambridge University.
Even though I had graduated magna cum laude as an undergraduate, I never saw myself as smart.
Looking back, I wonder what it would have taken for me to feel qualified. A 4.0 GPA?
I had all the qualifications, yet in my head, I did not believe I was worthy, smart enough, or deserving of it.
Fast forward a few years later, working as the only black researcher and immigrant in a marketing research company, I struggled with the same limiting beliefs.
For the first few months on the job, I honestly thought I'd get fired for poor performance. Imagine my surprise when I survived the first year and received a great performance review! I truly was shocked. Me?
It didn't help that I knew I was being underpaid. I had tried to advocate for a salary $10,000 higher than the one I got, and I was not taken seriously. So that further undermined my confidence in what I was bringing to the table.
Thank God, after much personal and professional development work and support, I finally had the self-assurance to advocate for myself and others later in my career.
Without investing in myself and coming to terms with who I was, my brilliance, and my worth, I would never have gotten to a six-figure salary.
I share this story because there are so many women struggling with the same things I did. Seasoned professional women with brilliance in spades, who cannot articulate their worth and who settle for way less than they deserve.
This is compounded when that woman is an only... the only woman, woman of color, or an immigrant... all these factors make it that much harder to step into our full power and agency. We are much more susceptible to the systemic biases that are alive and well and the internal ones that sabotage our success.
Imposter syndrome tends to manifest itself when we find ourselves in a career transition, such as entering a new role or job, or when we're subjected to heightened visibility and scrutiny in leadership.
During these moments of change, imposter syndrome preys on our insecurities, whispering doubts about our competence and worthiness.
As we step into unfamiliar territory, our imposter highlights our perceived flaws and shortcomings, making us feel inadequate. We may question whether we truly deserve the opportunities that have come our way, fearing that others will eventually discover what we believe to be our incompetence. Then there is the dreaded fear of failing, which our imposter thrives on.
The pressure to meet high standards (hello perfectionist!), coupled with the fear of being exposed as a fraud, can feel overwhelming. Similarly, when we are thrust into the spotlight, imposter syndrome capitalizes on the increased visibility and scrutiny.
Whether it's presenting in front of a large audience, taking on a leadership position, or receiving recognition for our achievements, imposter syndrome activates our self-doubt and a nagging belief that we are undeserving of attention.
We start constantly second-guessing ourselves and fearing that others will realize we are not as competent as they think. And isn’t this at the heart of all our insecurities professionally?
The first step in combatting imposter syndrome is recognizing it in ourselves. The second step is confronting it.
In this 3-minute video snippet on imposter syndrome, I share a novel way to address it. You definitely want to check it out.
I invite you to take this quick quiz to see how well you’re doing with your confidence competency: https://www.theunveiledway.com/confidence-check-assessment.
I am passionate about leadership development for women (and a few good men) because I understand the challenges we face. I've walked the journey. I've done the work. And now, I can be that guide and coach who can help you amplify your strengths and superpowers so you can have the impact and income that you deserve.
You can choose the long way—trying to figure it all out on your own. Or you can decide today that you're worth investing in—that you don't have to continue to play small and dim your light.
Because it is your time to shine, girl, and I can help you shine so magnificently that your imprint in your arena is undeniable.
Ready to roll? Let’s chat!
Special Offer This Summer!
This summer, through August 31st, I’m offering my Unveil Your Brilliance Three-month program for 20% off!
Don't miss this incredible opportunity!
Like my six-month program, this three-month program includes:
1-hour Zoom sessions
Email support between sessions
Access to resources, assessments, and worksheets as needed
Customized CliftonStrengths summary charts
Access to my skills as a copywriter and resume re-brander to level up your LinkedIn bio/profile
The ability to leverage my expertise in personal branding and image management and more!
Both programs give you outcomes, including:
Cultivating your confidence so your fears and insecurities no longer hold you hostage.
Becoming the version of yourself you need to lead unapologetically.
Being self-assured in your brilliance so you no longer need other people’s validation.
Modeling a leadership presence aligned with your cultural heritage and perspective which invites others to bring their authentic selves to work.
Operating from a posture where you can draw from your full agency, authority, and autonomy as a woman of color.
And so much more!
Book your no-pressure Discovery Call now, and let's explore how I can help you break through obstacles, close the gap between where you are and where you aspire to be, and ignite the inner fire that will blaze your divinely destined trail. https://www.theunveiledway.com/lets-connect.
As "The Brilliance Unveiler," Natalie Jobity leverages more than fifteen years of experience empowering hundreds of women as an image consultant and now as a transformational leadership coach & personal brand strategist of The Unveiled Way. She works with executive women and founders to empower them to unveil their brilliance so they can transform into the next-level version of themselves needed to make their impact and lead unapologetically in their arena.
Natalie Jobity is an ICF-certified coach, bestselling author, mentor, speaker, and facilitator who recently published her second book titled, It’s Your Time to Shine, Girl: Own Your Brilliance, Step into Your Influence, and Lead Like a Trailblazer. This leadership development and empowerment book will inspire women the world over to step into their purpose, and also give them the tips, tools, and techniques needed to succeed and thrive as a woman of influence.
Visit Natalie’s website to learn more about how she partners impact-minded women to propel them forward so their impact and influence increase. Discover your leadership brand by taking Natalie’s five-minute assessment, What Is Your Leadership Brand.