Seeing my work cited in articles on tackling impostor syndrome is always a treat.
Sometimes more so than others.
Like the blog post that featured my solutions before concluding that implementing them is “easier said than done.”

The writer was surprised when I chimed in to say she was absolutely right!
Anything that evokes meaningful change is “easier said than done.”
It’s easier to say you want to lose weight than to lose weight (trust me, I know).
It’s easier to say you want to start exercising than to actually start exercising (again I speak from current experience).
It’s easier to say you want to stop procrastinating on big projects, speak up in class, become your own boss, or… well, you get the idea.
Still, we know whether you want to help yourself or the people you lead, mentor, coach, or parent change requires effort.
And I’m not about “fast, easy” solutions to anything.
But it doesn’t have to be complicated, either.

For example, one of my core solutions to impostor syndrome is to reframe competence, failure, mistake-making, setbacks, constructive criticism, self-doubt, and fear.
Of course, helping yourself, your employee, or your coaching client to put reframing into practice requires action — the “doing” part of “easier said than done.”
How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome With This 30-Second Hack
To start, make a conscious point to tune into those moments when you are actively experiencing impostor feelings – a job interview, networking event, a promotion – becoming aware of the conversation going on in your head.
“My resume looks impressive, but I’m just making it up as I go along.”
“Yikes! Everyone here is so much smarter than me.”
“Sure, they said I do a great job, but that’s just because they like me.”
Then take a moment to reframe your “impostor” thoughts the way someone who is humble but has never experienced impostor syndrome might. In other words…
Learn to think like someone I refer to as a Humble Realist™.
To be clear, Humble Realists™ aren’t more intelligent or capable or even necessarily more confident.
The only difference is when faced with that same impostor-triggering job interview, networking event, promotion, and so on, Humble Realists™ are thinking different thoughts.

So, here the automatic thought, “My resume looks impressive, but I’m just making it up as I go along,” becomes, “I feel good about what I’ve done so far and my ability to learn and adapt as I go.”
The false belief that “Everyone here is so much smarter” becomes, “Wow, there are so many bright people here. I’m going to learn a lot!”
And this notion that “Sure, they said I did a great job, but that’s just because they like me,” becomes, “It feels great to know others value my work and enjoy working with me.”
Of course, it’s always “easier” to continue to believe you have little to offer, that everyone is more intelligent or capable, and that being likable is an excuse for your success rather than being the valid skill set that it is.
Will you necessarily believe the new thoughts or instantly feel more confident or worthy?
Unlikely.
After all, feelings are the last to change.
But the solution isn’t to wait until you feel confident to act.
The solution for you, your employees, or coaching clients is to change your thoughts first to think like a Humble Realist™ – yes, even if you don’t believe the new thoughts – and then act as if you really do believe the new thoughts trusting that your confidence will catch up over time.
Simply said the only way to stop feeling like an impostor is to stop thinking like an impostor.
Know, too, that the practice of reframing isn’t something that’s one-and-done.
You must decide that the pain of impostor syndrome is worth the relatively little effort it takes to practice new thoughts repeatedly.
The High Price of Impostor Syndrome
Unlearning impostor syndrome by embracing the mindset of a Humble Realist™ won’t always feel “easy” or intuitive.
But there’s nothing “easy” about going through life feeling like an incompetent fraud.
The constant anxiety of waiting to be “found out”
Missing out on valuable learning, advancement, income, and the chance to make a difference in the world because you shy away from risk.
Never knowing the satisfaction of feeling well-deserved pride in your work.

Burning out from overworking and over-preparing in an attempt to make up for your supposed ineptness
And, as one workshop participant put it, “Continuing to allow my impostor syndrome to steal the joy of the ride.”
When you consider the high price of impostor syndrome, the effort it takes to reframe is a pretty small price to pay. The choice is yours.