Kick Imposter Syndrome to the Curb and Harness the Power of Self-Confidence
You fell in love with coaching for the coaching aspect, the tools, the insights, and the ah-ha’s that you've had and helped others to have. But the flip side to the coaching gig is the entrepreneurship part.
This may be the Achilles heel to your dreams or maybe it’s just a little bump. Either way, sometimes we all need a little boost to our self-confidence especially when imposter syndrome rears its ugly head (as it does for everyone at some point).
You may still feel nervous at times but recognizing that it’s imposter syndrome can help you still show up and coach at the level you know you're capable of.
Maybe you don't think you should have a lack of confidence as a coach since you're leading and guiding others, but you’re still a human with a human brain, as I’m sure you remind your clients of often.
But what exactly is this imposter syndrome that we all hear of?
A simple definition of imposter syndrome from WebMD says it’s “when you doubt your own skills and success” 1.
Anyone who is trying to do big things experiences imposter syndrome at some point, so you’re in good company.
UC Davis says “findings show that people with high self-esteem generally have more success at school and work, better social relationships, improved mental and physical health, and less antisocial behavior” 2.
Since we know imposter syndrome will still show up from time to time, the goal is to shorten how long it hangs out. So let's look at how self-confidence can help you in your coaching business, your relationships, and even your mental and physical health.
How a Boost in Self-confidence Will help You as a Coach
- Set achievable goals
It’s easy to dream big: The beach house listing you stalk on Zillow. A certain number in your bank account. The dream vacation. But what about the more medium size dreams that feel like you've been attempting year after year but haven't quite crossed off the list? The reason is they’re too big. Instead of the goal to make 10K a month, you need to break it down into small baby steps. For example, send out your newsletter every month. Post 20 times on social media every month. Every time you do what you say you’d do, you get a dopamine hit, and it’s an easy way to build trust with yourself. As a bonus, it's an undercover way to build self-confidence.
-Step outside your comfort zone
We all tend to stick with what feels comfortable and a little on the safe side. But one way to build self-confidence is to ride the edge of your comfort zone and try to step outside of it, even the tiniest bit. Imposter syndrome will try and make it seem scary, but each time you override it, new things get easier and your self-confidence grows.
-Reflect on past success, accomplishments, and celebrate progress
One of the simplest ways to nudge you out of an imposter syndrome slump is to look back at how far you’ve come. It’s no secret that by looking at all of your accomplishments you can stay in perspective and get your brain from spiraling out on how much farther you have to go.
One thing I do is keep a Google doc of all the accomplishments along the way. It’s a visual way to see progress, and I get a little jolt of happiness whenever I look at it.
Strengthen Your Relationships and Your Self-Confidence at the Same Time
-Add supportive people
It’s no secret that having a circle of support to lean on in any area of life can be invaluable. That’s especially true when it comes to being a coach and running your own business. If you did any coach training, reach out to those who went through it with you and form a support group. You can help each other through the challenging parts of your business and keep each other motivated when imposter syndrome holds you back from what you dream of doing.
-Help others by sharing your knowledge
Being part of a village helps you feel good especially when you can help other coaches solve their problems. Maybe you figured out an easy email service provider to work with. Share that information with another coach. It will make you feel good to serve them and as a bonus you will have your self-confidence grow realizing you’ve figured out something challenging that you didn't know before.
- Relationships grow when we are vulnerable
By being open and honest in your close relationships you can become closer when you share your feelings of self doubt about your coaching business. It not only brings you closer by sharing your truth, they can help you see your blind spots and move you back into believing in yourself faster.
Mental and Physical Health Go Hand In Hand When it Comes to Self-Confidence
-Get the double bonus of better mental health by prioritizing your physical health
“Being active releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good - boosting your self-esteem” 3.
No matter your current level of fitness, any movement will help you get closer to any goals you have. Imposter syndrome may be showing up and saying that you're not fit enough to go to the gym. That's a lie, just start small by going for a 10 minute walk 3 times a week. This will build your self-confidence and earn you those amazing chemicals to help you feel better overall.
-Positive self talk and affirmations
As a coach, you know how crucial self-talk is for your confidence. You teach it to your clients but how often are you checking in on yourself?
Here's a list of some of my favorite affirmations that help me be more confident when I'm feeling a little down, unsure, or low.
-I am the master of my thoughts
-The universe is rigged in my favor
-Every little bit of action I take adds up
-I can do hard things, even when it’s scary
-I love myself, no matter the outcome
-I’m doing things that my future self is proud of
-Practice gratitude when things are going well for you as a coach
It’s a tried and true method. Gratitude makes everything better. For an instant self-confidence boost, write a list of things you're grateful that you’ve accomplished so far and people that have helped you along the way in your coaching business. Extra points if it was really scary or hard, and you did it anyway. List even the small things and watch your self-confidence skyrocket.
To show up as the powerful coach you know you are you have to stay confident. Try any of these practices to help yourself along your entrepreneurial journey. If you need help being confident in any part of your business, I’d love to chat about what strategies would serve you best.
Citations
1- https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-is-imposter-syndrome
2-https://www.ucdavis.edu/curiosity/news/research-review-shows-self-esteem-has-long-term-benefits
3-https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/physical-activity-and-mental-health#:~:text=Physical%20activity%20is%20not%20only,us%20can%20do%20for%20free!
