Suffering from imposter syndrome and wondering how to show up with authority in your business? 🤠

This episode/post is for you, my friend. 

Imposter syndrome is tough, and something we’re all familiar with – especially when we’re teaching/coaching other people. We want to feel qualified to provide valuable information, right? We don’t want people to question our credibility or our authority, and we want to make them feel confident that we are the person to help them. 

So, in this episode/post, I’m sharing three essential factors to consider if you want to establish yourself as a credible authority and position yourself as an expert.

Why Does Imposter Syndrome Occur?

Imposter syndrome often stems from our own insecurities and fear of failure. We set high standards for ourselves and constantly compare our achievements to those around us, leading to a constant sense of not being good enough.

The first step in navigating imposter syndrome is to recognize and acknowledge its presence in our lives. Take a moment to reflect on your own experiences and feelings of self-doubt. Understanding that you’re not alone and that many successful individuals have experienced imposter syndrome can be incredibly empowering.

Now, let’s talk about some practical strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome and unleashing your inner authority.

#1 Education

You should know what you’re talking about in your business, but formal education isn’t necessarily a requirement. You don’t need a four-year or even a two-year degree to be an expert in your field. 

Someone who doesn’t have a stack of qualifications but produced amazing results for themselves by mastering a skill and finding a strategy for something (let’s say they mastered selling on Instagram) makes them an expert in that field. It allows you to share what you’ve done to get results with others and build a business out of it.

That doesn’t mean that you should stop there, however. I think it’s important to continue actively learning about your topic. Are you reading books related to your field? Are you taking courses or attending relevant classes and workshops? It’s important to invest in your own education if you’re teaching others. 

Stay vigilant to shiny object syndrome here though – you don’t need to sign up to really expensive extra trainings and not make your money back, jumping from one thing to the next. Always ask yourself, do you really need this training, or is it fear that is stopping you from starting your business, putting yourself out there, or taking that next step in your business?

#2 Experience

First-hand experience is incredibly significant, perhaps even more so than education. A lot of folks get called out as frauds because they teach before they actually put what they learn into action.

You’ve got to practice what you preach, my friend! It’s more than just regurgitating what you learned from a course or book. You’ve got to have real-life experience and lessons learned from trial and error – that’s how people will connect with you.

So, before you start telling me how to make $5,000 from my blog, or how to tone up my midlife belly, you better have done that yourself. When you teach, it’s got to come from your own experiences. So, what’s your personal journey with what you’re teaching? What have you gone through?

#3 Examples

It’s crucial to have more than just yourself as a case study. Do you have testimonials and case studies from clients or individuals you’ve genuinely helped? Such evidence proves that people have applied your teachings and achieved positive results. Demonstrating real-world outcomes is the ultimate way to avoid being perceived as a fraud. 

While education and experience provide a strong foundation, examples are what truly set you apart. You want to ensure that you not only have personal experience, but also tangible proof of the results achieved by yourself or your clients. 

Now, you might be wondering how to acquire examples if you haven’t yet obtained clients. In such cases, I suggest reaching out to friends, and family, or joining relevant Facebook groups that align with your target audience. 

You can propose service exchanges or ask people to be case studies for a few weeks or months. Monitor their progress and measure the results of your training. By doing this, you’ll have at least one compelling case study to showcase, enabling you to position yourself confidently as an expert. 

Start small, overdeliver, get your first handful of clients, and set yourself up for growth.

Feeling like an imposter can be daunting, especially in a saturated industry. However, by consistently focusing on education, experience, and examples, you’ll set yourself up for success.

Remember, always strive to deepen your knowledge in your area of expertise. Apply your education to gain personal experiences that validate your teachings. Lastly, gather testimonials and case studies to let others’ results speak for themselves.

Remember that imposter syndrome is a common experience, but it doesn’t define you. It’s essential to cultivate self-compassion and remind yourself that you are deserving of success and recognition.

Be kind to yourself, embrace your journey, and unleash your inner authority 💛

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