Successfully navigating career transitions requires strong self-awareness, knowledge of new areas, expanding one’s network, sharpening job search “tools,” and managing the emotions of new challenges.
Self-doubt, playing smaller than you know you’re capable of, and imposter syndrome all tend to be constant, confusing companions to career growth and greater impact. It’s a topic that comes up frequently in coaching. If you’ve been afflicted with any of these, you’re in surprisingly good company. Sonia Sotomayor , Howard Schultz, Jody Foster, Maya Angelou, Tom Hanks, and Michelle Obama are just a few of the amazing, accomplished individuals who have confessed to fears of being ‘found out.’ Studies suggest that over 70% of people experience feeling like a fraud it various points in their career. As we start to unravel this confidence conundrum (and unravel it you must if you want to grow your career and impact), it can be helpful to consider two types of confidence: