Struggling with Imposter Syndrome? Try kicking these behaviours to the curb!

While much of the ongoing conversation regarding women leaders struggling with imposter syndrome focuses quite rightly upon aspects of skill development such as communication, conflict resolution, and the ‘how to’ tasks of leadership there are equally important behaviours which you need to adopt to increase your confidence and improve your leadership presence. Incorporating these behaviours into your daily life is a must if you want to gain the upper hand on your feelings of imposter syndrome.

 Lois P. Frankel in her book: “Nice Girls Still Don’t Get the Corner Office, Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers” outlines a host of do’s & don’ts to help you achieve your full career potential. Here are three physical ways you present yourself that you need to change:

Lose the limp handshake:

Women tend to be more reticent about shaking hands, and now that handshakes are making a comeback post Covid, it’s important to remember that this is often your first opportunity to make an impression on others. The way you shake hands lets people know something about you before you speak. The message you want to send to others is that you want to be taken seriously and a limp handshake conveys the opposite impression! The optimal handshake is one solid pump, accompanied by a concise greeting, and eye contact.

• Tip:  When you meet someone for the first time offer your hand first if they do not, it’s a sign of confidence.

Make Eye Contact:

There can be varied reasons for not making eye contact, however, right, or wrong, when a woman avoids making eye contact it is interpreted as a sign that she is either uncomfortable or unsure of herself. Making eye contact during a conversation is an excellent way to let people see your knowledge, sincerity, and self-confidence and for you to see the same attributes in the person you are speaking to.

• Tip:  When you are meeting with someone, be sure to look them in the eye as it puts you on an even footing with them.

Own your space:

The way we use space around us is another way that we convey our level of confidence; the more space you take up, the more confident you appear. In general, women are usually the first to minimize the space they take up when the area they are in becomes busy or crowded. We move into a corner, hunch up in a chair, or stand in one spot when giving a presentation. These actions convey a message of timidness, lack of confidence, and having little to contribute.

• Tip:  When you are sitting in meetings make sure you have room to move. Avoid hunching up in your chair or folding your hands in your lap. Instead, lean forward with your hands either resting on the table, or on your elbows when you are speaking. This conveys confidence, and your knowledge on the topic of discussion. When you are giving a presentation, come out from behind the podium when you speak, and move slowly from side to side, forward and back using about 75% of the space around you.

•  Remember, as you work on improving your physical presence you are increasing your confidence and your leadership presence as you kick those feelings of imposter syndrome to the curb!

For more information on how our Executive Coaching services can help you overcome imposter syndrome please connect with Marilynn Kendall at Endless Possibilities Executive Coaching & Consulting for a complimentary conversation:  info@epexecutivecoaching.com