The voice in your head

Recently, I found myself battling self-doubt before coaching a group of senior executives ahead of a high-stakes event.

So I changed the language in my head.

Instead of asking: 

"What if I'm not good enough?"

I told myself: 

"I'm excited about the opportunity to learn and grow."

That small shift helped calm my nerves and bring my very best. 

I've been speaking publicly since childhood and started teaching presentation skills more than 25 years ago, but self-doubt still shows up from time to time.

The difference is that I've learned not to believe everything my inner critic tells me.

I've also learned that self-doubt is far more common than we think

I've had conversations with executives, subject matter experts, senior leaders, and highly accomplished professionals who have openly shared their own struggles with self-doubt. Honestly, I've often been shocked to hear them say it.

The reality is that imposter syndrome is far more common than most of us realise.

The good news is that there are practical ways to manage it.

One strategy that helps is reframing the conversation in your head, as I did before that recent coaching session.

Another is to consciously remind yourself what you bring to the table.

It's something so many of us forget when self-doubt creeps in.

We focus on the gaps.

The things we haven't done. The skills we haven't mastered. The experiences we don't have.

But we often overlook everything we do bring to the table—and forget that those qualities are what earned us a seat there in the first place.

In my case, I have to remind myself of the same.

Not just the years I've spent teaching presentation skills, but the thousands of conversations I've had, the presentations I've delivered, the challenges I've overcome, the mistakes I've made, and the lessons I've learned along the way. 

If you think about it, I’m sure you have your own list too.

So when imposter syndrome creeps in, remember three things:

1. You're not alone.

2. Change the language in your head.

3. Don’t forget everything you already bring to the table.

 They won't eliminate self-doubt entirely, but they can help quiet that voice in your head—

just enough so you can show up at your best.