Have you ever thought: “I don’t really know how I got this role. I’ll have to overwork to measure up. Maybe it was luck. Maybe I should switch to a safer gear or smaller team less consequential role. You know what, I’m just going to quit and look after the kids (and there’s nothing wrong with that).
If this sounds like your inner dialogue, you might be wrestling with a little something called imposter syndrome.
With its persistent whispers of doubt, imposter syndrome can make you feel like you’re not up to the task, constructing a seemingly impenetrable barrier between you and the success you rightfully deserve. Yes, you deserve to own your influence. It’s time to silence the deprecating thoughts, acknowledge your true capabilities, and view your success and accomplishments as unquestionably impactful: both financially and behaviorally.
Let’s explore the importance of overcoming imposter syndrome for women in leadership roles, highlighting the substantial returns on investment, both financially and personally.
Women often grapple with confidence issues in male-dominated organizations, especially in executive leadership positions (being the representative woman can carry added pressure). Many assertive, driven women struggle to express their genuine leadership potential due to fears of backlash or being deemed too assertive. On the flip side, if you don’t feel you belong at the same table as your colleagues, let alone in the same room, then you become far less effective at asserting yourself, making decisions, and effectively leading teams.
Financial impact on the Organization: Consider a Marketing VP wrestling with imposter syndrome
In her leadership role, various departments look to her and her team for collaboration and alignment, and to amplify and share data. If she’s worried about backlash, lacks confidence, and thinks her contributions don’t matter, then that thought leadership genius that got her the role ends up dormant. And on top of that, everyone ends up overworking anyway.
So, where is the return on investment?
With that same marketing executive, if her confidence were to blossom, she could stand firm in her position, foster proactive teamwork, communicate the key messages of the organization from all verticals such as customer service, sales, and technology while providing strategic insights. Guess the impact of carrying the “why” of the organization through it’s message to customers and stakeholders? Millions added to the bottom line with a few thousand spent.
Let’s say you have your sights set on a promotion, but you doubt that you deserve it. Well, you’ll likely climb the ladder as high as you expect to. It’s only when you recognize that your skills and achievements warrant a promotion, and you convincingly convey this to others, that you’ll begin your ascent up the corporate ladder.
More than just a title change, addressing imposter syndrome can lead to significant salary increases too.
Experience suggests that successfully overcoming imposter syndrome in women can boost their earnings by up to $50,000 and compounded through her career. That’s because believing you are precisely where you should be instills the confidence to negotiate better compensation packages, undertake more challenging roles, and delegate tasks without fear. Plus, it reinstates that invaluable and unique essence of charisma in your leadership brand. All of which play important parts in your personal financial growth and organizational prosperity.
Women who grapple with imposter syndrome often overcompensate by overworking, striving to prove their worth. When you’re able to overcome imposter syndrome, you directly gain more control over your time. This newfound balance enables you to spend quality time with family and friends, pursue personal interests, and find joy beyond the confines of work.
All-in-all, what it costs to overcome imposter syndrome can have a sizable ROI on the organization and the individual. Aside from the compounding monetary return, are the peace, confidence, communication, charisma, and impact on others. From increasing your earnings and improving company profits, to advancing your career and enhancing how you spend your off-time – it’s time to stop playing nice, get support to start knowing your worth, owning your value, internalizing your influence, and enacting it on the workplace.
Share your thoughts! Comment below if you know someone who could benefit from reading this or if you’ve faced imposter syndrome and would like to share your story. Remember, it’s only through acknowledging our challenges that we take first step toward overcoming them.
