Imposter Syndrome affects 75% of women in the workplace and it’s continually an issue that I see coming up in my coaching practice and when delivering training programmes at companies. 

What is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter Syndrome is the internal psychological experience of feeling like a phoney in some area of your life, despite any success that you have achieved in that area.

It is typically experienced by women who are high achievers, but they believe that their success is down to luck or that ‘anyone could have done that’.

What I’ve observed in coaching my clients, and in my own situation too, is that there are different ways to describe Imposter Syndrome: some women will say that they feel like a fraud, others will compare themselves to their colleagues, while some will have perfectionist tendencies and others will hold themselves to incredibly high standards.

These thought patterns are then reflected in certain behaviours, which can hold women back at work. 

Often these behaviours started in childhood, according to the seminal study by Clance and Imes (1978), although this information is not widely known (and is a key part of my speech and course). It is often incredibly helpful for the participants in understanding why they feel this way and how their thought patterns have been embedded for so long, which now need to change.

Some of the ways that coaching clients and workshop participants have shared with me that Imposter Syndrome affects them:

• “I don’t speak up in meetings, or present as much as I would like to.”
• “I rework documents or presentations several times because they need to be perfect.”
• “I believe that others have an inflated view of me (they think I’m better at my job than I am) and this makes me question my abilities at work.”
• “I don’t ask to be involved in special projects or interesting work that my team is doing because they may see that I’m not that good at my job.”
• “I believe that I’m ‘faking’ it in my job and will be found out soon.”
• “I leave my work until the last minute, or procrastinate, because I have such high expectations on myself and that I should be able to do my job easily.” (eg you self-sabotage)
• “I compare myself to other colleagues and how I measure up against them.”
  

Imposter Syndrome Speech: Good Enough

I am launching a new keynote speech available to businesses: Imposter Syndrome in the Workplace: Why it’s holding women back and practical tools to finally feel good enough.  

This 60-minute keynote speech will include Q&A time and can be delivered in-person in the UK or Europe and/or online via Zoom with a recording of the session provided.

Speech outline: 

• According to a KPMG study, 75% of women experience Imposter Syndrome, which results in them not feeling “good enough”, and holding themselves back from taking promotions for example.
• There are many external and internal barriers holding women back – discussion around these barriers and what individuals and organisations can do to overcome or reduce these barriers.
• Common reasons for Imposter Syndrome (where it starts) including citation of the seminal 1978 study into Imposter Syndrome.
• My own story of not being ‘good enough’, coupled with case study stories from my clients (women in banking, law and marketing).
• Tips and tools to overcome Imposter Syndrome including where to start and my framework.
• Q&A and summary.
• Optional add-ons for your company:
  • Data into Imposter Syndrome in your company –  how is it affecting your employees? The data will be shared in the keynote as well as insights and recommendations to consider.
  • The Women’s Vault’s Overcome Imposter Syndrome online course with the option to include group coaching sessions for optimum results.
    

This keynote speech is being delivered to two companies in March 2023 for International Women’s Day. One company has selected the Imposter Syndrome Overcome your Imposter Syndrome Course with group coaching sessions. Further details can be provided. Please contact me on the details below.

Biography: Olivia Bath

Olivia Bath is a Qualified Coach (NLP), Corporate Trainer, former CEO Advisor and Award-winning Communications specialist. 

Olivia partners with organisations to create a meaningful impact on women’s career progression and leadership and often provide both corporate training and communications support, focusing on Diversity, Inclusion and Employee Engagement.

Olivia also works with several organisations to provide coaching to their female employees, from middle management to those in senior roles, from Partners in their Law Firms, to directors and Heads Of. This includes return to work coaching after maternity leave – when women are now in more senior positions.

Olivia also provides communications advisory services and support to Executives and is currently working with a global pharmaceutical in this capacity, and will provide training and coaching on Imposter Syndrome in 2023.

Olivia has written feature articles for publications including Grazia, Motherdom, Global Banking & Finance, HR Weekly and Harper’s Bazaar, and has been a guest on podcasts such as The Parent Hood and Made by Mammas (see link below).  

Olivia has delivered workshops to companies in the UK and Australia including Deloitte, Amazon, NHS, Nuffield Health, Knight Frank and law firms.

Prior to this, she was a CEO Advisor in Banking & Finance including communications.

Olivia is from Sydney Australia and currently live in London with her husband, Peter and four-year-old son, George.

Podcasts

Olivia has been a guest on a number of high-profile podcasts: listen to her episode of Anna Mathur’s The Therapy Edit on Spotify below (or search wherever you listen to podcasts).