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Why feeling a fraud actually signals professional growth
Imposter syndrome. It isn’t a problem at all. It is a positive sign that you are growing.
Every one of us carries a narrative about who we are, how capable we are, how visible we’re allowed to be, or what role we play. That story started many years ago, and has so many layers added over time. For the most part, having a story about ourselves works for us. It helps us make sense of the world. It gives us stability. It tells us how to behave, what to expect, and where we belong.
Our story becomes familiar and familiarity feels safe. But then you grow.
You learn. You discover. You make mistakes. You gain experience. You produce results. You step into bigger rooms. You take on more responsibility. You find yourself being seen in ways you haven’t been seen before.
And suddenly, your external reality expands faster than your internal identity.
The story you’ve been carrying can’t quite keep up. That friction? That discomfort? That tightness in your chest before you speak? That voice saying, “They’re going to find me out”? That’s not fraud. That’s growth.
Imposter Syndrome is what happens when your old story hasn’t caught up to your new capacity. It’s the emotional experience of stretching beyond an identity that once fit you perfectly. It’s what it feels like to leave behind a version of yourself that kept you safe, even if it also kept you small. You’re not pretending to be something you’re not. You’re becoming someone your past self couldn’t imagine yet.
And growth rarely feels comfortable. It feels uncertain. It feels exposed. It feels like standing in a space that doesn’t fully feel like yours yet. But the discomfort is not evidence that you don’t belong. It’s evidence that you are expanding.
So, the question isn’t, “How do I get rid of Imposter Syndrome?”
The question is, “Am I willing to outgrow the story that kept me small?”
Because every new level of leadership, visibility, and impact will ask you to release an old narrative about who you are. And each time you do, you don’t become an imposter. You become more fully yourself.
Alicia Marie is the Founder and Managing Director of People Biz Inc, a leadership and development firm established in 2000. She works with founders, business owners, and senior leaders to strengthen leadership capability and build organizations that grow sustainably through their people. Her work integrates strategy, human behavior, and dialogue-based training and coaching.
