107 | The impact of imposter syndrome at work & how to tackle it head-on, with Aoife O’Brien

Have you ever felt like a fraud at work and worried you were about to be found out at any moment? Do you ever hold yourself back from asking for what you want for fear of hearing the word, “no”? Do you ever procrastinate because you’re worried about getting things ‘perfect’ enough? Do you work incredibly hard – perhaps harder than your colleagues and peers because you want to make sure you’re achieving good results at work?

If you can answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you are not alone. You may be experiencing imposter syndrome; something that affects many of us at certain points throughout our career.

In this episode of HR Coffee Time, guest Aoife O’Brien explains what imposter syndrome is, the impact it has at work and how to tackle it head-on.

Listen to the episode to learn:

• What imposter syndrome is (and what it isn’t)
• Where her interest in imposter syndrome comes from
• Results from Aoife’s research into imposter syndrome
• How imposter syndrome impacts performance (including procrastination and burnout)
• What Aoife thinks about claims that imposter syndrome doesn’t exist or that it’s an unhelpful label
• Practical strategies to tackle imposter syndrome throughout your organisation
• Tips to help you overcome imposter syndrome for yourself, including ABC (A = acknowledge, B = belief, C = courageous action)
• How knowing your strengths and asking for feedback can help

Useful Links

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Aoife’s Imposter Syndrome Survey Report
• Aoife’s Happier at Work website
• Aoife’s Imposter Syndrome website
• Gallup Clifton Strengths Assessment
• The Essential HR Planner

Aoife’s social media profiles

• Connect with Aoife on LinkedIn
• Follow Aoife on Instagram
• Follow Aoife on Twitter / X
• Subscribe to Aoife’s YouTube channel

Buy the Book Recommendation

(Disclosure: the book links are affiliate links which means that Fay will receive a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase through them)

High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way, by Brendon Burchard

Other HR Coffee Times Mentioned in This Episode

• Episode 1: How to feel more confident at work
• Episode 36: Four simple but powerful techniques to banish imposter syndrome, with Joanna Lott
• Episode 57: Using the Johari Window to develop & grow in your HR career (the Johari Window is a feedback tool)
• Episode 75: What psychometrics are, how you can use them & why they’re so helpful, with Sue Colton (psychometrics can be a helpful way of learning about your strengths)
• Episode 78: 5 tips to get useful feedback at work to help your HR/People career

Looking For the Transcript?

You can find the transcript on this page of the Bright Sky Career Coaching website.

Rate and Review the Podcast

If you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you're kind enough to leave a review, let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: fay@brightskycareercoaching.co.uk.

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