A Guide for Women Who Are Ready to Own Their Success

You’ve probably felt it. That little voice whispering:

“Who do you think you are?”
“You’re not qualified enough.”
“Someone’s going to find out you don’t really belong here.”

That voice? That’s imposter syndrome. And it’s more common than you think.

Signs of Imposter Syndrome in Women

Imposter syndrome in women leaders, entrepreneurs, and caregivers shows up differently, but the root cause is the same: doubt that doesn’t match reality.

We over-prepare, over-work, second-guess every decision, spend extra hours on projects, and re-read every email ten times before hitting send. 

We downplay success, worry we just “got lucky”, and fear someone will discover we’re not really qualified.

We silence ourselves and hesitate to speak up for fear of sounding foolish or sit in meetings with the answer, but stay quiet anyway. 

We turn down opportunities we’re fully qualified for and settle for less than we deserve because we dread being “found out.” 

And perhaps most painfully, we compulsively engage in self-comparison. We measure our worth against the highlight reels of other women, fixating on what we think we lack. 

The irony? Those same women we’re comparing ourselves to are likely battling the exact same doubts, quietly wondering if they belong.

The Impact Imposter Syndrome Has on Women’s Lives

Imposter syndrome isn’t just harmless insecurity. It doesn’t matter how old we are or how much experience we’ve gathered. 

And while men experience imposter syndrome too, women often face an extra twist: we doubt ourselves not over skills we lack, but over skills we already have.

Here’s a short list of the very real consequences women with imposter syndrome face:

• It fills us with self-doubt.
• It chips away at our confidence.
• It can rob us of joy.
• It keeps us stuck in cycles of doubt instead of growth. 
• It fuels burnout through overwork.
• It strains our relationships.
• It can limit our careers.
• It dulls our sense of purpose.
• This constant shrinking reinforces the lie that our voices don’t matter.
  
  

How Women Can Help (or Hurt) Each Other

Here’s the hard truth: women can make imposter syndrome worse for each other.

We’ve all seen the competition, comparison, or cattiness instead of support. Those little digs or dismissive comments can make us shrink back instead of stepping forward.

But here’s the good news: the opposite is also true. When women lift each other up, share our struggles honestly, and remind one another of our worth, we break the cycle. Together, we create spaces where confidence grows.

The Role of Emotional Intelligence

Picture Imposter Syndrome as your favorite gremlin. Now, explore that gremlin through the lens of the first three Emotional Intelligence Pillars of Visibility to help shift the story entirely. 

• Mindfulness catches the gremlin in the act. Be very aware of the stories you’re telling yourself when doubt creeps in. Ask yourself to show proof that supports the stories in your head. (“Am I really unqualified, or is this just the old imposter voice again?”)

• Self-Awareness notices the damage it causes. Recognize the impact of those stories on your choices and confidence. Acknowledge the impulses they create in you. The words you want to speak (or bury) and the actions you most want to indulge in. Look deeper and identify how those actions would affect those around you.
• Self-Regulation refuses to hand it the mic. Calm the spiral of doubt and choose new, empowering actions instead. Give yourself time and space to evaluate the long-term impact those choices will have on your future. If you’re struggling, ask someone you trust to help you put them into perspective.

These three pillars help notice and name our thoughts so we can decide whether they get to stay in the driver’s seat.

Join the Circle

Don’t just manage the gremlin. Outgrow it. Join us, and step into a circle where your voice, your success, and your story truly belong. If you’re ready to explore this with other women who get it, join us for:

Circle: Breaking Free from Imposter Syndrome
📅 Tuesday, August 19, 2025
🕖 7:00 pm EST | 6:00 pm CST | 5:00 pm MDT | 4:00 pm PST

Circles are free, informal gatherings where women come together to share, reflect, and support one another. This isn’t about fixing you. It’s about creating space where you can own your success and step forward with confidence.

Click here to register for this week’s Circle

Because you don’t have to do this alone. Together, we can turn doubt into confidence and imposter syndrome into a story of strength.