February is International Boost Self Esteem Month, an annual awareness initiative dedicated to improving self-esteem amongst people across the globe. It is a special time dedicated to the importance of self-worth, and an opportunity for everyone to focus on building confidence and appreciating their own unique qualities.
According to Psychology Today, alarmingly approximately 85% of people worldwide have low self-esteem. Symptoms of low self-esteem may include negative self-talk, feelings of inadequacy, difficulty accepting compliments, hypersensitivity to criticism or generalized anxiety and depression.
In the workplace, low self-esteem can exhibit itself as the imposter syndrome, or the psychological phenomenon where individuals have persistent feelings of inadequacy despite demonstrated successes. Feeling like a fraud, doubting one’s abilities, attributing wins to luck and not skill, or fear of being exposed as incompetent are all classic hallmarks of the imposter syndrome. From lower and middle level management to the C Suite, the imposter syndrome is an equal opportunity disorder affecting 80% of the global workforce and, according to a recent CNBC report, 71% of CEOs in the U.S. alone.
According to John Little, nationally recognized leadership coach and public speaker at The Winners Edge Coaching, “Everyone thinks imposter syndrome is a personal challenge, but the reality is, it costs organizations millions,” Little said.
“High achievers are often the ones who struggle the most with imposter syndrome as they move into middle and senior level leadership positions. They tend to be more isolated with fewer peers and more visibility, so they often feel more pressure to perform but silently question if they are equipped to do so. Behaviors like not being willing to speak up in meetings which can stifle innovation, micromanaging tasks from their direct reports or overcompensating with false bravado can be telltale signs of a leader feeling insecure and operating from fear. The downstream impacts of these leadership actions on organizations range from low producing teams to high turnover and even increased legal risk resulting from toxic leadership behavior,” Little added.
The bottom line? Stop comparing or contrasting yourself to others; focus on self-awareness and self-improvement, not on being better than someone else.
People who are winning aren’t better than you, they have just learned how to quiet self-doubt and act with confidence.
Table of Contents
Breaking Free of Low Self-Esteem & Imposter Syndrome
- Take an inventory of your strengths and write them down
- Try to do something new or challenging either daily or weekly
- Actively self-praise daily
- Be honest about realistic goals so you reduce the risk of disappointing yourself
- Practice self-compassion by being kind and patient with yourself
- Celebrate your successes, big or small
- Focus on positive relationships and peer group support
Click here for your free e-book on the 8 Steps to Conquer the Imposter Syndrome: Transform Self-Doubt into Confidence and Thrive Professionally.
About The Winners Edge Coaching
The Winners Edge Coaching was established by John Little, who has over 25 years of experience as a business leader, entrepreneur, and consultant. John has developed and coached hundreds of talented people who have since advanced to Executive Directors, Vice Presidents, Senior Managing Directors, Managing Directors, Senior Business Leaders, and Individual Business Owners.
Strategically, John helps leaders identify priorities, assess and address challenging situations, develop short and long-term goals and establish a plan of action to achieve successful outcomes.
John holds certifications in DISC, Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and Fundamental Interpersonal Relationship Orientation (FIRO-B), as well as a certificate from Cornell University for Diversity and Inclusion for HR Professionals. With extensive experience in corporate Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Engagement strategies, John combines his vast leadership knowledge and coaching skills to help elevate seasoned and emerging leaders. John’s lifelong passion for people is evident in his work as a developer of talented individuals, from those starting their careers, all the way into the C-Suite. For more info visit https://thewinnersedgecoaching.com/
