Why Do Women in Leadership Struggle with Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is a pervasive issue, affecting approximately 75% of female executives and those in leadership roles across various industries at some point in their careers (KPMG). Despite clear evidence of their expertise, accomplishments, and leadership capabilities, many women still struggle with feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and often second-guess their decisions.

The internal struggle with the psychological phenomenon of imposter syndrome can create hesitation to take on new challenges and opportunities, which, in turn, can limit career growth and development. This issue reflects deeper societal and organisational dynamics that shape how women are perceived and valued in the workplace.

Leadership Burnout

Imposter syndrome can often serve as a catalyst for leadership burnout, a condition characterised by physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion from the prolonged pressures of leadership responsibilities. This problem manifests deeply, and can significantly reduce productivity and performance, while simultaneously escalating stress and anxiety levels.

Why does it happen? - Gender Bias and Underrepresentation

The feeling of not "deserving a seat at the table" is deeply rooted in decades of gender bias and discrimination within the workplace. From childhood, women are often labelled as "too bossy" or "aggressive," discouraging them from expressing their opinions and supressing their voices. Although we in the UK are making strides in the number of women executives, 1,275 or 43% of roles on company boards and 6,743 (35%) of leadership roles at the 350 FTSE companies. Despite this, there are still clear disparities in how women still don’t feel they deserve those opportunities.

Client Liaison, Lizzy's Insight on Imposter Syndrome

In honour of International Women’s Day, Client Liaison Lizzy shares her personal perspective on imposter syndrome

“It is difficult, particularly coming from a generation where our fathers were the main breadwinner, and our identity was becoming mothers, rather than building careers. It was a given that you’d want to have children. Then there was then a shift of how women began to see how they wanted their lives to look. For me that was when I stopped facilitating everybody else in my life, and looked at what I wanted - this was when I had space to look at who I could really be. You still have moments, particularly in male dominated environments, where you find yourself having to stop yourself being small and allow yourself to claim space and authority”

How do you to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

1.     Relax and Be Yourself: The truth is, who you are is more than enough. Embrace your strengths and abilities.

2.     Commit to Lifelong Learning: Always stay curious and look for opportunities to expand your knowledge. Building new skills and gaining more information will empower you and help mitigate feelings of inadequacy.

The key to overcoming imposter syndrome is acknowledging its presence and understanding the underlying causes are. By focusing on self-empowerment, seeking growth, and claiming the space rightfully deserved, imposter syndrome can hopefully soon be seen as a phenomenon of the past.