Do you ever look around the boardroom and think, "One day, they will realize I have no idea what I'm doing"?
The Diagnosis: Confusing 'Doing' with 'Being'
In Neuro-Semantics, we distinguish between two critical variables that most high-achievers collapse into one:
- Self-Confidence: This is a measure of your skills. It should be conditional. (I am confident in Excel; I am not confident in singing).
- Self-Esteem: This is a measure of your worth. It must be unconditional.
The Imposter's Error
Imposter Syndrome happens when you base your Self-Esteem on your Confidence.
The Equation: "If I make a mistake (Low Confidence), I am a failure (Low Worth)."
This makes every project a life-or-death struggle for your ego. It leads to perfectionism, procrastination (fear of testing the ego), and eventually, burnout.
The Fix: The 'Unconditional' Frame
To lead effectively, you must decouple these variables.
Acknowledge the Gap: "I am currently incompetent at this specific task." (That is a statement of Confidence).
Assert the Worth: "...and I am a valuable, learning human being." (That is a statement of Esteem).
When your worth is safe, you are free to ask 'stupid' questions, learn faster, and lead without the mask.
