
The imposter syndrome or phenomenon is well-documented in the research literature.
It's particularly common among high achievers who have recently taken on new responsibilities
This means leaders and leaders new to role are among the groups most likely to experience it.
Most people who experience it don't recognise it for what it is. They assume it's personal (“it’s just me”), or temporary, or something to push through. Sometimes they're right. Often, they're not.
The research identifies five distinct patterns. Each one shows up differently, responds to different strategies, and has a different explanation for why it develops in leaders specifically.
This free assessment takes five minutes. It identifies your dominant pattern and gives you something specific and practical to work with to help you defeat your imposter feelings — based on the evidence, not generic advice.
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Helping leaders for more than a decade
I am Martin Cole. I run the Self Determined Leaders newsletter and website. I am a professionally certified organisational and executive coach. I have a Masters (M.Sc.) in Coaching Psychology. I am also a qualified lawyer and I work in finance leading a team of compliance professionals.
I teach and coach leaders using evidence-based approaches to help them build the skills, knowledge and presence to create authentic leadership confidence. I have been leading teams for nearly 25 years and helping leaders and other professionals through coaching for over a decade.