Imposter Syndrome at Work
Own Your Success and Feel Confident That You Belong
When You Fear Today Might Be the Day You’re Found Out
You can be capable, experienced, and respected - even promoted into senior roles and with plenty of evidence that you’re good at what you do - yet still walk into a meeting with the nagging fear that today might be the day people see through you and realise you’re not quite as good as they think you are.
Despite everything you’ve achieved, you may dismiss your success as luck, good timing, or “blagging it”; believe you should already know every answer; hesitate to ask for help; or put relentless pressure on yourself to prove you deserve your position.
Imposter syndrome is not evidence that you are an imposter. It is a pattern that can keep you from trusting your real ability, owning your success and moving forward with more confidence.
Does This Feel Familiar?
You might:
think “I should already know this” and try to work something out alone rather than ask a perfectly reasonable question;
worry that asking for clarification will make you look less capable;
overthink whether your manager is getting enough updates - while simultaneously hesitating to contact them;
rehearse what you're going to say in meetings, or rush to speak before your nerves have time to build;
feel particularly exposed during presentations, interviews, appraisals or conversations with senior people;
explain away good results as luck, timing, preparation or “blagging it”;
keep checking Teams, Slack or email after work because switching off feels risky;
find that a new job, promotion or bigger responsibility makes the doubt louder rather than quieter; or
feel confident in much of your life yet experience an entirely different version of yourself at work.
From the outside, this can look like conscientiousness, ambition and high standards. Inside, it can feel exhausting.
Why Imposter Syndrome Can Feel So Convincing
Logically, you may know you are experienced and capable. Yet promotions can still feel undeserved, and each new challenge can feel like another test. Board meetings, presentations or conversations with senior people can suddenly feel exposing.
As you become more experienced, there can also feel like there is more to lose. You may have built a career, reputation, income and level of responsibility that matter deeply to you - so the possibility of making a mistake or not knowing the answer can feel much bigger than it once did.
At the same time, technology and ways of working keep changing. Nobody can know everything all the time, yet the more senior you become, the more you may feel you should already have the answers. A perfectly normal gap in knowledge can then start to feel like evidence that you are not as good as people think, and that you have outgrown your usefulness.
“64%
of professionals surveyed had experienced imposter feelings at some point in their career.
— Hays UK, 2025: Survey of 8,247 employers and employees
What Are You Really Afraid Might Happen?
Often, it is not the mistake itself; it’s the fear of what it could lead to:
fear of criticism, people questioning whether you are as capable as they thought;
failing, disappointing someone or losing the respect of people who matter;
damaging the professional reputation you have worked hard to build;
being caught off guard, exposed or losing control;
losing your job, income or future opportunities; or
losing the status, security and choices your career now gives you.
What Keeps the Pattern Going?
When the pressure rises, your mind may tell you, “I should already know this,” “I cannot get this wrong,” or “They might find out.”
So you protect yourself. You work harder, overprepare, check repeatedly, rehearse what you are going to say or hold back from asking the question you really want to ask. These things may help you feel safer in the moment - but they can also make it harder to discover that you would probably have coped perfectly well without them.
Even when things go well, you may tell yourself it was because you prepared so much, got lucky or managed to “blag” your way through this time, rather than because you were capable.
Success never quite becomes evidence you can trust yourself, so the doubt remains. Once you see and understand where the pattern came from, you can change it and start feeling differently, so you can start trusting yourself, being more open and feeling more calm, confident and in control.
“44%
said their imposter feelings had become more frequent as their career progressed.”
— Hays UK, 2025.
How I Help You Move Beyond Imposter Syndrome
You may already know, logically, that you are qualified and capable. The frustrating part is that knowing it does not always change how you feel when the pressure is on.
The people I work with are often already successful, experienced and trusted by others - yet during a stressful period, a time of uncertainty or change, that confidence can start to feel less secure. A difficult meeting, new responsibility or unfamiliar situation can suddenly leave you questioning yourself and everything you have achieved. You don’t need to figure out where it comes from first. We can get straight to working with what is happening beneath the surface.
Our work is about changing the pattern underneath the self-doubt, so you can respond with greater confidence and trust yourself more naturally.
Understand Your Triggers: We start with what is happening for you now. Perhaps it is a new role, a leadership change, feedback, an interview, a high-profile meeting or working with senior people.
Work With the Beliefs Beneath the Doubt: Using RTT® and hypnotherapy, we explore the beliefs and emotional associations beneath thoughts such as “I should already know,” “I’m not enough”, or “I’ll be found out.”
Rather than simply reassuring you that you are capable, the aim is to work with the part of you that doesn’t quite believe it yet and begin developing a more supportive internal response.
Reinforce a More Confident Response: After your RTT® session, you receive a personalised recording to support the work we have done together.
As you begin noticing what feels different, follow-up support helps you bring that change into the situations that used to trigger the doubt, whether that is asking a question, speaking in a meeting, making a decision, or simply switching off at the end of the day.
Confidence That Feels Natural
Imagine being able to:
reach out, ask for help or seek a second opinion without feeling exposed;
take initiative rather than shutting down when you are unsure;
contribute in meetings without rehearsing every word;
prepare for an interview or appraisal without your self-worth resting on the outcome;
accept praise and recognise the skill behind your success;
make decisions without repeatedly second-guessing yourself; and
finish work and switch off, rather than staying mentally on call all night.
Confidence is not about never doubting yourself. You can feel secure enough in who you are and what you bring that a difficult question, unfamiliar situation, or mistake no longer knocks your confidence. Instead, you can trust yourself, think more clearly and move forward without constantly second-guessing yourself.
“25%
have experienced those feelings often.”
— Hays UK, 2025
Imposter Syndrome FAQs
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No. Imposter syndrome is not a formal diagnosis. It is a widely used term for feeling fraudulent or undeserving of success despite evidence of competence. If anxiety, low mood or disrupted sleep is significantly affecting your daily life, it is important to seek support from an appropriate healthcare or mental health professional.
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As your career progresses, there can feel like there is more at stake. You may have built a reputation, income, seniority and level of responsibility that matter deeply to you, which can make mistakes or gaps in knowledge feel more significant than they once did.
At the same time, greater seniority often brings new challenges, visibility and expectations. You may start telling yourself that you should already know the answer, when in reality nobody can know everything.
The more you have achieved, the more uncomfortable it can feel to risk being seen as uncertain.
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This is very common. Imposter feelings can become much stronger when you feel visible, assessed or expected to perform - particularly in interviews, presentations, board meetings or conversations with senior people.
You might overprepare, rehearse what you want to say, rush to answer, worry about being caught off guard or feel your confidence disappear even though you know your subject well. We can explore what makes those situations feel so exposing for you and work with the thoughts, beliefs and emotional responses underneath them, so you can feel calmer and more able to trust yourself when the pressure is on.
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RTT® and hypnotherapy helps you to explore and change beliefs and emotional associations connected with professional self-doubt and imposter syndrome.
Every person’s experience is different so no particular outcome can be guaranteed. We begin by understanding your triggers, your history and what you would like to feel or do differently
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Often one session is enough to make a significant shift for imposter syndrome.
Although as everyone is different, sometimes layered sessions are needed if there is underlying trauma, anxiety or visibility concerns too.
We can discuss the most appropriate option during your discovery call.
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An RTT® session is a focused, one-to-one process where we use hypnotherapy to access your subconscious mind and explore the thoughts, beliefs and emotional responses connected to the issue you want to change.
You remain aware and able to talk throughout. We may explore experiences that have shaped the way you respond today, identify the beliefs underneath the pattern and begin developing a more supportive way of thinking and responding.
At the end of the session, I create a personalised recording for you to listen to afterwards, helping you reinforce the changes you want to make in everyday life.
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While Rapid Transformational Therapy® and hypnosis can be incredibly effective, they’re not the right fit for everyone. RTT is not recommended for those who:
Are currently experiencing severe mental health crises (like active psychosis or severe bipolar episodes)
Have untreated epilepsy or certain neurological conditions
Are unwilling or unable to engage in the process openly and honestly
Expect a quick fix without commitment to the journey of change – listening to the audio for 21 days consistently
If you have any concerns or complex mental health issues, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional first. RTT® works best when you’re ready to take an active role in healing and growth.
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They can overlap, but imposter syndrome tends to centre on competence, achievement and fear of exposure in a corporate environment.
Low self-esteem is usually broader and affects your overall sense of worth. You may also find the Low Self-Esteem and Confidence page helpful.
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Yes, absolutely. In fact, many people find online sessions more effective - they’re in their own space, more relaxed, and free from the stress of travel or rushing to appointments. You will need a trusty wifi and a comfortable safe place, where you can relax and not be disturbed and away from interruptions. Transformation can happen right from the comfort of home.
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Yes! All sessions are confidential, and your personal information is handled with the utmost care and in accordance with professional standards. You can feel safe sharing what’s on your mind.
Free of Imposter Syndrome
After a period of significant C-suite leadership change, I increasingly felt like an imposter at work, especially when presenting in board meetings or being assessed. I worried I’d be ‘found out’ for not being capable or knowing enough.
After my RTT® session with Nerissa, I started noticing changes in how I approached these situations. I felt confident in situations where I would previously have felt like an imposter, which was quite amazing to experience.
What surprised me was the impact in other areas too, including presenting to clients, speaking with senior executives and attending networking events. The session helped me let go of old beliefs and move forward with greater self-confidence.
Alan, Director
From Feeling Like a Fraud to Trusting Herself
Before my RTT session with Nerissa, I seriously doubted my ability at work and had real imposter syndrome. Even when things went well, I questioned myself and felt like a fraud. Meetings, appraisals, starting a new job and speaking with senior people made me anxious. I worried I would be found out, and it was difficult to switch off when I got home because I kept overthinking.
Since my RTT session, I feel much more comfortable in myself, more confident, and I have much less mental noise. Even now, when I look back, I can see a real difference in how I trust my ability, speak up confidently and approach work. I have since secured a fantastic new role, and I’m loving life.
Jennifer, Marketing Manager
Your Next Step Starts Here
If this feels familiar, you don’t have to work through it alone.
In my work with clients, I often see how quickly things can begin to feel different once we understand what is driving the self-doubt. What has felt complicated or deeply ingrained can sometimes be more straightforward to work with than you expect.
You already have the experience and ability that brought you this far. Our work is about helping you trust it more fully, so you can feel calmer, more confident and less governed by the fear of getting things wrong.
Your free discovery call is a chance to talk about what's been happening, ask any questions, and see whether this work feels right for you.
You Don't Have to Keep Proving You Deserve to Be Here
You may be closer to feeling confident in yourself than you think.
Sessions are available online and in Reading, Berkshire.