Live+Work More Human · 2026-06-23 · 34 min
This episode unpacks imposter syndrome as more than a confidence issue, reframing it as a deeper pattern rooted in conditional self-worth and reinforced by workplace cultures that reward over-efforting. Drawing on research, lived experience, and coaching insights, Sally and Alexis explore why high achievers are often the most affected - and what it takes to shift the pattern at both an individual and systemic level. Imposter syndrome is often misunderstood as a simple lack of confidence. In reality, it is more accurately described as an “imposter phenomenon” - a persistent internal narrative of being a fraud despite clear evidence of competence. What sits beneath it is often a limiting belief: “I’m not enough.” This belief drives a form of conditional self-worth, where value is tied to performance, achievement, and external validation. The result is a cycle of over-efforting, hypervigilance, and chronic self-doubt that can quietly fuel burnout - especially in high-performing individuals and demanding work environments. One of the paradoxes explored in this conversation is that expertise can intensify imposter feelings.
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