So many of us battle impostor syndrome. Believe it or not, it’s especially common among people who have attained higher-level positions in their career. Why do so many of us doubt ourselves despite our achievements? How can we overcome these feelings that hold us back? We spoke with Michele Molitor about how to identify the triggers that cause impostor syndrome and, moreover, how to rewire your brain to boost your confidence.
Watch our interview with Michele Molitor to learn how to rewire your brain and free yourself from impostor syndrome:
Michele Molitor is the founder and CEO of Nectar Consulting, Inc., and co-author of the best-selling book Breakthrough Healing. She works with executives and entrepreneurs bringing over 25 years of experience, intuitive insights and strategic business savvy to your success. Michele’s unique Rapid Rewiring™ approach is a culmination of years of study in the realms of emotional intelligence, neuroscience, organizational psychology and Rapid Transformational Therapy. She helps catalyze shifts in thinking and eliminate mental/emotional blocks to rapidly rewire your brain for greater confidence and success. A nationally recognized speaker, certified executive coach, organizational development consultant, trainer, hypnotherapist and writer, Michele’s passion for helping you amplify your natural talents and expand your leadership is conveyed through all aspects of her work and writing.
We start our discussion with how Michele came to build Nectar Consulting and focus in on impostor syndrome. As she describes, she had worked her way up in her career, but then was faced with bullying and men who didn’t like working for her. Michele ended up losing her job, and this in turn led to her developing impostor syndrome. But eventually, Michele decided to turn that around – for herself and for others. She started Nectar Consulting and made it her mission to help others overcome impostor syndrome.
So what exactly is impostor syndrome, and how do you know if you have it? As Michele explains, impostor syndrome is feeling that you don’t deserve a seat at the table, like you’ll be found out as a fraud, like you’re not smart enough or good enough to be there. It brushes aside your accomplishments and evidence of your talent, and replaces it with feelings that it’s all a charade or good luck. It makes you feel like you’re not as intelligent or worthy as people think you are, and it’s only a matter of time before others figure that out. If any of these symptoms ring true for you, you may have impostor syndrome.
Many things can trigger impostor syndrome. How can we identify our personal triggers? Michele first offers some examples of the types of triggers that may lead to impostor syndrome. Maybe you’re the only one (or one of a very few) of your identity where you work – in terms of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and so on. Perhaps you’ve heard the message that you’re not good enough earlier in your life, whether from a parent, teacher, or peer. It can be informative to consider different moments that shaped your understanding of yourself. What messages did you receive – explicitly or implicitly – that affected your self-esteem?
Impostor syndrome holds us back in our lives and careers in a multitude of ways. For example, it prevents us from going after things – such as jobs and promotions – because we think we don’t deserve it or there’s no way we’ll earn it. It can make us shy away from career opportunities, being in the limelight, or even accepting praise. But if you want to thrive in your career, it’s important to boost your belief in yourself.
How can we overcome impostor syndrome? Is there a way to rewire our brains to make us impostor syndrome-proof? The short answer is YES! Michele helps people beat impostor syndrome by rewiring the passages in their brain. She works to literally make new pathways in your brain matter. Learn more about her work – and the fascinating science behind it – on our podcast.
We end our conversation with some of Michele’s final tips about identifying triggers and overcoming impostor syndrome. Find out what she thinks about positive affirmations and more in our episode!
Learn more about how to rewire your brain by listening to our podcast with Michele:
To discover more about Michele Molitor and her organization, Nectar Consulting, visit her official website here. You can also keep up with all her latest updates by following her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
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