Focus Forward: An Executive Function Podcast

Ep 37: Imposter Syndrome Redefined: Breaking Free from Self-Doubt (ft. Dr. Nicole Pulliam)

Jan 31, 2024

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This week’s episode is focused on something that is both widespread and completely misunderstood - imposter syndrome. After all, there’s nothing inherently wrong with people who feel like imposters. It’s not a syndrome - especially to the degree to which the term “syndrome” is appropriate. In reality, the more accurate name is something more like “imposter phenomenon, which is actually a term coined by the original researchers on this subject, Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes, in their initial papers. Regardless of what you want to call it, feeling like an imposter who doesn’t deserve the success they’ve experienced or the position they’re in is all too common in today’s world. Left unchecked, feeling like an imposter can grow beyond self-doubt and prevent us from feeling fulfilled or confident in all areas of our lives. Luckily, my guest today is Dr. Nicole Pulliam - aka the perfect person to help you overcome your self-doubt! I was connected with Nicole through a colleague of mine, Allison Larthey, who saw her speak at the Women’s Leadership Summit in NJ in the fall of 2023. After having the pleasure of speaking with her for this episode, I now know why she was so impressed by Nicole’s presentation. Tune in to hear our conversation about how to manage feeling like an imposter, the impact of it on our lives, and what you can do to better support yourself and those around you.

Here are the show notes for today's episode:

Learn More About Dr. Nicole Pulliam

https://www.realandworthyllc.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbSFe0Fumnk

Learn more about Imposter (or Impostor, both are right) Phenomenon

The Imposter Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention - Clance and Imes

https://www.womeninanesthesiology.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ip_high_achieving_women.pdf

Imposterism, Perfectionism, and Burnout – A Toxic Triad - Dr. Tracey Marks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BMSsKWJ8gs

Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome

https://hbr.org/2021/02/stop-telling-women-they-have-imposter-syndrome

Feeling Like an Impostor Is Not a Syndrome