In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about staying confident while looking for a new job. This is difficult under the best of circumstances but is particularly true when you’ve lost your job. How do you stay connected to your strengths and bring your best self to the search process when you still have lots of unresolved feelings? My guest this week, Debra Boggs, is the founder and CEO of D&S Executive Career Management. Here we talk about how to confidently navigate...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about managing up. For professionals with impostor syndrome or self-doubt, managing up can be a big challenge. Many of us prefer to keep our heads down, do good work and avoid the politics. Unfortunately, if your goal is advancement, that strategy won’t get you there. My guest this week, Roberta Matuson, is an executive coach and author of the book, Suddenly in Charge: Managing Up, Managing Down, Succeeding All Around. Here she shares...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about the importance of helping men to become more emotionally connected. My guest this week is Mike Cameron, leadership coach and author of the book, Becoming A Better Man: When "Something's Gotta Change", Maybe It's You! Here Mike shares his personal journey from financial entrepreneur to coaching men to improve their mental health by becoming more emotionally connected, which began with the murder of his girlfriend by her...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about overcoming self-doubt. Self-doubt gets in our way more often than we think. It creeps up on us in big and small ways that keep us from leaving our comfort zones, even when those comfort zones are making us miserable. My guest this week is Amy Bernstein, author of the upcoming book Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears, Finding Inspiration. Amy shares her own story of pivoting from a career in government to a full-time writer...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about letting go of our scripts at work. We all have scripts that guide our behavior in the workplace. These scripts might be internally generated based on past experiences and influences. Or they might be dictated by external forces, such as our manager, who tells us how to show up in certain situations. When we adhere too closely to these scripts, we lose our authenticity and our ability to build trust with those around us. This week,...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about the absence of career satisfaction that so many of us feel and the effects of that on our confidence, mental health and overall well-being. My guest this week, Anthony Kuo, is a career satisfaction coach who shares strategies we can all use to thrive at work. Anthony shares his personal journey of feeling pressured to do things he was good at, even though he didn’t enjoy them. He also teaches us how to spot not just the red flags,...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about power. Power is an abstract concept -- it’s hard to put your finger on. But we all know when power is empowering or disenfranchising. And when the power dynamics aren’t designed to empower, everyone loses. This week, I talk with Dr. Tanji Reed Marshall, an educator and consultant who has done fascinating work on power. Here we chat about the importance of mindfully building or re-building your power structure to foster greater...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about trauma. If you experience grief or trauma, you may be given a pep talk, told how strong you are, or otherwise encouraged to put the past behind you. We feel pressured to get back up again and move on. But our minds and bodies don’t work that way. Our symptoms might be physical, emotional, mental or more and we might not even realize they’re connected to the traumatic event. And these events might not be recent. They might stem back...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about how to stop settling for mediocrity in our careers. If you’re tolerating work that’s “just okay,” you’ve internalized a belief that work is supposed to suck, or you’re making things harder than they need to be, you’re not alone. This week, I talk with Elena Pastore, a leadership and career coach, about how to think differently about how we manage our careers. We explore actionable steps you can take to feel more empowered and less...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about building confidence by better understanding our bodies. Many of us think of confidence as a belief in how amazing we are and an absence of self-doubt. But if we define confidence in this way, we’ll never achieve it because it’s not realistic. This week, I talk with Zeina Habib, an embodied coach, trainer and project manager, about how to strengthen our confidence. She offers practical tips for how to tune into your body’s...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about the general sense so many of us have that something is missing from our careers. Maybe we feel it but can’t pinpoint it. Or, maybe it’s staring us in the face. Often it shows up as burnout, overwhelm or the constant need to prove ourselves. And, typically, when this occurs, it’s because we’ve given our power away. This week, I talk with Melani Dziire, a leadership coach and former internal audit executive about her experience...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about our natural tendency to compare ourselves to others, which often leads us to dismiss what we uniquely bring to the world. This week, I talk with Juan Taveras, an HR and DEI leader, about his journey in the DEI space, as well as his perspectives on the future of DEI. We also talk about the responsibility and opportunity each of us has to do our own DEI work. And, finally, we talk about how Juan has navigated impostor syndrome as a...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about self-awareness. Most of us don’t know ourselves as well as we think we do. Self-awareness is hard work. It requires time we might think we don’t have. It might mean facing some truths that scare us. But self-awareness is critical to our self-trust and self-empowerment. This week, I talk with Zovig Garboushian, an executive coach, speaker and trainer, about the ways in which self-awareness unlocks our power and puts us back in...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about how to better understand and manage our feelings. Do you know the difference between your feelings and intuition? For many of us, it can be difficult to tell them apart. Here I talk with Joanna Armstrong, an emotional relief expert, about how to interpret our feelings and use them as information to guide us forward. We also talk about how our feelings generally reflect the rules of society whereas our intuition helps us define our...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about the constant need that so many of us feel to prove ourselves. And with that need often comes the belief that we’re not doing enough. This insidious way of thinking is pervasive in the workplace, particularly among women and members of marginalized groups. But what if you get to decide what’s enough? This week, I’m talking with Jamie Lee, a fellow executive coach who helps women who hate office politics get promoted. She and I...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about the role our stories play in our confidence journeys. When we’re doing something scary, or experiencing self-doubt, too often, our story is one of disempowerment – I don’t belong here, or I’m not good enough. It’s a fluke, or there’s been a huge mistake. But what happens when we change the story? My guest this week, Jodi Flynn, is the CEO and founder of Women Taking the Lead. Here we talk about the impact of our stories and what we...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about what happens when we put everyone else’s needs above our own. If you’re living your life or managing your career on someone else’s terms, eventually it’s going to catch up with you. My guest this week, Jen Schwytzer, is a life coach who shares her journey from social work in a hospital setting to coaching others to manage stress and overwhelm. Jen shares how putting herself last led to burnout and loss of love for the work she did...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about leveraging the power of love languages to create long-lasting change. My guest this week, Paul Zolman, grew up in a family of abuse where he learned to be angry. This anger followed him into adulthood until he decided he no longer wanted to live this way. Here Paul shares the approach he took to change his behavior, which ultimately led to a shift from anger to love.  About My Guest Paul Zolman is the author of Love is God. In...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about the gap that often exists between our confidence and competence. How often have you looked at someone with lots of confidence and thought, “That person is all confidence and no substance?” Too many of us have so much to offer but struggle with self-doubt while others toot their own horns with very flimsy evidence to support their greatness. My guest this week, Annie Margarita Yang, is a finance guru and author of the book The 5-Day...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about the ways in which high-pressure, high-intensity environments lead us into suffering contests that undermine our mental and physical health. My guest this week, Gary Simonds, is a retired neurosurgeon who shares the ups and downs of his educational and career journey. We also explore practices we can all use to increase our self-compassion, self-care and overall sense of empowerment. About My Guest Gary is a highly experienced...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about navigating change. For many of us, the pace and intensity of change throughout our worlds has been destabilizing. As humans, we crave predictability, so change, especially change that’s imposed upon us, can undermine our sense of security in the world. That’s why staying connected to what’s unchanging for us is so important. My guest this week, Dana Shamas, an executive leadership and wellness coach, shares her journey with change....

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about finding the right path. As humans, we’re very resilient and willing to tolerate a lot of stress and frustration to protect our comfort zones. But what happens if we take a step back and evaluate what we really want from our lives? This week, I talk with Tony Martignetti, a fellow leadership coach, about his own self-discovery process and how that led him to a major career change. We also explore practical, yet powerful steps you...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about how easy it is to buy into the narrative that we need shame and self-criticism to propel us forward. My guest this week, Kamini Wood, is a human potential coach who shares her own journey with proving herself, people pleasing and perfectionism. We also talk about the power of self-awareness to break free from this trap and become our best selves.  About My Guest Kamini Wood, a certified life coach, helps high-achievers heal their...

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about gaining control of our attention. Between our phones, our busy minds and all of the other distractions around us, it’s challenging to control our attention. But if we’re not focused on what we’re paying attention to, then we can’t be as intentional about our decisions, thoughts and behaviors. My guest this week, Derick Johnson, is an Army veteran, life coach and fitness trainer who shares his personal journey with childhood trauma...