Welcome to your Confidence Catalyst newsletter, helping you speak up, step up and stand out.

If you know me, you know I’m not a fan of labels.

Especially the label “imposter syndrome.”

I prefer: imposter shenanigans.

Because the word “shenanigans” immediately softens it. It takes it out of “something’s wrong with me” territory and puts it back where it belongs – a very normal response to growth.

Growth might look like:

A new level.  New expectations.

New environment.

Uncertainty.

Of course, doubt shows up in these situations.

The problem isn’t that it appears.  It’s what you do next.

Let’s look at this through our usual three lenses:

Mindset: treat it as a temporary state, not an identity

Feeling like an imposter is a moment, it is not who you are.

When we say these things , we make it mean something permanent:

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“I’m not ready”

“I’m not good enough”

“I don’t belong here”

Instead, get a bit more neutral:

“This is what growth feels like.”

And then ask: What evidence do I already have that I belong here?

Not hypothetically.  Actually.

Because most of the time, you’ve outgrown your own self-perception.

Behaviour: challenge the internal, adjust the external

This is where most people get stuck.

They stay in their heads trying to “fix” the feeling.

But feeling like an imposter is often not an internal problem.  It’s a positioning problem.

If you keep framing everything as confidence,  you’ll keep looking for internal fixes to external positioning gaps.

So shift the question from:  “Do I feel ready?”

To: “What am I not making visible?”

That might look like:

• speaking before your idea is perfectly formed
• sharing your impact more explicitly
• positioning your experience and leadership in the room

The system doesn’t reward readiness.  It rewards visibility

Compassion: stop making it a problem to solve

You are supposed to feel like this sometimes.

If you never feel like an imposter, you’re probably not stretching.

The goal isn’t to eliminate the feeling.  It’s to support yourself through it.

So instead of pushing it away, ask:

What actually helps me here?

That might be:

• journaling to get perspective
• taking a few minutes to regulate (yes, breathing works)
• revisiting your “brag file” – the evidence of what you’ve already done
• reminding yourself of things you once thought were out of reach… and now aren’t

Not to convince yourself you’re amazing.  Just to ground yourself in reality.

Final Thought

Imposter shenanigans don’t mean you don’t belong.

They usually mean you’ve moved before your self-perception has caught up.

So don’t wait to feel different.

Move like someone who already understands their value –  and let the feeling catch up later.

Have a great week ahead.

Kirsteen