The Executive Version of Impostor Syndrome No One Talks About
The Executive Version of Impostor Syndrome No One Talks About
At the executive level, impostor syndrome rarely sounds like: “I’m not good enough.”
It sounds like:
“If they knew what was happening inside me…”
This isn’t a confidence problem.
It’s often an integration problem.
Why impostor syndrome hits differently at the top
Executives rise fast.
Titles change quickly.
Impact expands quickly.
But identity recalibration takes time.
That gap—between outer responsibility and inner integration—creates the feeling of being misaligned.
Two drivers of executive impostor syndrome
1) Invisible expectations
Unspoken expectations create internal pressure you can’t “win,” because no one defined the rules.
2) Identity lag
Your results grew, but your internal grounding hasn’t caught up yet.
The reset: three moves
Name the identity pressure
“What part of me doesn’t feel aligned with the role I’m in?”Reclaim your center (5 seconds)
Not to perform. To return.Lead from truth, not perception
Perception shifts. Truth anchors.
You’re not an impostor stepping into bigger rooms.
You’re a leader outgrowing an outdated version of yourself.
Check out the full video here:
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LinkedIn Newsletter: Integration Under Pressure
