Every day you show up, log in, and face a mix of meetings, messages, and missions. One part of your brain is ready to tackle the day. Another part is whispering you’re not cut out for this, you’re falling behind, or someone is going to realize you don’t actually know what you’re doing. The hardest work isn’t always on your to-do list. Sometimes, it’s in your head.
Take Action
You’ve probably heard of Impostor Syndrome. It’s the feeling you’re one mistake away from being found out. SPOILER ALERT: Everyone is an impostor. No one knows everything. Successful people keep moving in spite of their fear. Let’s say you’ve been asked to lead a project that feels a little too big. You tell yourself someone else would be more qualified. You consider turning it down or waiting for a time when you feel more ready. That feeling you interpret as a red flag is actually a sign you’re growing. Don’t wait for it to disappear. Step forward and get past it. The next time you feel like an impostor, say this to yourself, “I feel uncertain, but that doesn’t mean I’m not capable.” Then take one small action: Send the kickoff email. Ask a question. Book the meeting. Build momentum before doubt has time to settle in.
Awkward Practice
Instead of comparing yourself to your coworker who seems to always have it all together, ask yourself, “Am I better today than I was yesterday?” Growth usually isn’t a big leap. It’s a series of small shifts. Let’s say you struggle with leading meetings. You freeze under pressure or feel awkward when the discussion goes off-track. Instead of waiting to magically become more confident, rehearse a few common scenarios. Script a few go-to phrases you can fall back on like: “Let’s pause for a second. What’s the main decision we need to make here?” Or “That’s a good point. How do you see that impacting the timeline?” Practice these out loud. When the moment comes, your brain won’t scramble for words because it will already have them. Also, when something feels uncomfortable or new, ask a curious question instead of retreating. For example: Instead of saying, “I don’t know how to do this,” try, “What’s the first thing I’d need to understand to make progress?” Curiosity shifts you from panic to problem-solving.
Be Brave
Scroll through LinkedIn and you’ll see perfect projects, prominent prizes, and polished personal brands. But you’re not seeing the stress, the edits, or the three failed drafts behind those posts. If you’re holding back at work because you’re worried about not having all the answers, that’s normal. But if you let that fear guide your decisions, you’ll stay stuck. To be productive you have to be brave enough to make mistakes out in the open. Let’s say you’re in a team meeting and someone suggests a direction you’re not sure will work. You have an idea, but it’s not fully formed. You can either stay quiet or speak up, knowing you may be wrong. Say something like: “That is very interesting. We should definitely consider that. And it makes me wonder (Insert the thing you’re wondering here.) Would that work?” You’re not pretending to be the expert. You’re starting a new conversation. That’s valuable. Also, give yourself permission to say, “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.” You build trust by owning your gaps instead of pretending you don’t have any.
How do you move through your discomfort zone at work? Please share in the comments.