Your Next Clear Move
Welcome to Your Next Clear Move™—the podcast for leaders, professionals, and high-capacity humans who are done “getting ready” and ready to move.
I’m Debbie Peterson, Leadership Readiness Expert, and in each episode I deliver grounded insight, clarity-driven mindset strategies, and one actionable step to help you stop the drift and lead yourself forward.
This isn’t about fixing what’s broken. It’s about reconnecting to what matters—and making decisions that align with who you are and how you want to lead next.
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Your Next Clear Move
Imposter Syndrome is a Clarity Issue, Not a Confidence One
Struggling with self-doubt in your leadership role? You're not alone, but you might be looking for solutions in the wrong place. In this illuminating episode, we tackle the crucial distinction that can transform how you show up as a leader: imposter syndrome isn't a confidence issue—it's a clarity issue.
When you don't have a solid understanding of your unique strengths, your specific value, and how these align with your role, self-doubt naturally creeps in. Many leaders try to overcome imposter syndrome by working harder or attempting to build confidence without addressing this fundamental clarity gap. The result? A shaky foundation that collapses under pressure.
Drawing from powerful principles in neuro-linguistic programming, we explore four practical strategies to build what I call "clarity-driven confidence." You'll discover how to shift your internal narrative, employ the "act as if" technique, define your personal clarity advantage, and break the overthinking cycle with decisive action. Each approach helps you establish a clear sense of who you are and what you bring to the table, creating authentic confidence that withstands challenges.
The most powerful insight? You don't need to wait until you feel confident to act confident. By taking small, deliberate steps forward and focusing on the unique strengths you already possess, you create a positive cycle where clarity builds confidence, which enables more meaningful action. Whether you're a new leader or taking on expanded responsibilities, these tools will help you recognize and leverage your value instead of questioning whether you belong.
Ready to transform how you show up in your leadership journey? Identify one clarity-building action from today's episode and commit to implementing it within 48 hours. For additional resources on developing clarity-driven confidence, visit www.debbiepetersonsspeaks.com.
Hey, hello and welcome back. I am Debbie Peterson of Getting to Clarity, and this is another episode of the Getting to Clarity podcast. This is the place where you come to get the tips, tools and techniques to create more of an impact in your leadership but with less of a sacrifice in your life and what is really important to you. And today we're talking about imposter syndrome, a weighty topic, but I want to let you know it's not a confidence issue, it's a clarity issue. So stay tuned.
Speaker 2:Welcome to the Getting to Clarity podcast, the place where busy leaders discover how to create more success in their leadership journey with less sacrifice in their life. Here's your host, debbie Peterson, of Getting to Clarity.
Speaker 1:All right, imposter syndrome. You know new leaders a lot of times doubt themselves, and clarity can really help reduce that struggle. So there's a myth around confidence. A lot of people think that imposter syndrome is a confidence issue. If they could just believe more in themselves, then their doubt would disappear. But here's the thing Imposter syndrome isn't about confidence, it's about clarity. So if you don't have a solid understanding of your strengths, your value and your role and how all of these intertwine, then that is when self-doubt creeps in.
Speaker 1:Confidence without clarity is shaky at best. If you want to build real, lasting confidence, then that's where clarity comes in. That comes from knowing who you are, what it is that you do best and how you make a contribution. So think about the last time you weren't sure about something. Maybe it was a big decision at work, or maybe it was stepping into a new role. Holy cow, am I ready?
Speaker 1:You know that uncertainty messes with your head, doesn't it Made you maybe hesitate or second guess yourself or, even worse, put things off, not go for it? And it's the same with imposter syndrome. When you don't have clarity, confidence has nothing to stand on, there is no foundation. So imposter syndrome isn't about capability, it is about clarity. So, as a new leader, people who struggle with imposter syndrome don't struggle with it because they're incapable. They are fully capable. They struggle because they're unclear on what makes them valuable. And here's how it usually plays out you feel uncertain, you feel unsure about your skills, and then that doubt makes you wonder if you're good enough, if you should take that step, if you belong. So then you either overwork to prove yourself right, say yes to everything, stress yourself out, or, on the opposite side, you hesitate because you're afraid of messing up one side or the other. There is no middle ground. And then you feel like a fraud because you assume everyone has figured out that you don't have what it takes. And this is like a cycle. Does this sound familiar? Because I know I have been there plenty of times and most people try to get out of this cycle by working harder. But let me tell you, effort without direction just leads to burnout. So, instead of trying to prove yourself, what if you took a step back and you got clear on what it is that you bring to the table? Everybody has an edge, and I call it the clarity edge. So how do you build more confidence with clarity? I call it clarity-driven confidence.
Speaker 1:So NLP is what I've studied neuro-linguistic programming and it is all about how your brain processes thoughts and patterns your language, internal language, your behavior and it is incredibly helpful for shifting your mindset and getting rid of imposter syndrome, or at least having tools to deal with it when it crops up, because as you grow and expand in your leadership, as you step into new and bigger things, it's going to crop up again. So it's not gone forever. But the idea is that you have tools in your toolbox to be able to handle it. So, number one, change the story that you're telling yourself. Your words matter. If you're constantly thinking, oh my goodness, I don't belong here, I don't know. If I have what it takes, then that is instruction to your brain. Your brain is going to believe it and then it's going to go look for things to support those instructions. So instead, swap it for something that actually helps, like I have what it takes to figure this out. I have the skills to figure this out. I have the network to help me figure it out. I have worked hard to get here. They wouldn't have put me in this position if I didn't have what it takes. I bring something of value to the table, so you wouldn't let your friend sit there and talk down to themselves, right? So why are you doing it to yourself? Be careful about your words. Number two act as if Ever. Notice how confident people don't wait to feel ready before they take action. They just go for it, and I know that there are times where I did it, and I did it scared. Stepping onto the board for Athena International as chair, I thought this is an international organization. What do I possibly have that I could chair this organization? But I said yes because it was important to me and I knew that I had the people to figure it out One of the most rewarding experiences I have had, and I would have missed it if I would have said no.
Speaker 1:So think about. Think of a time when you felt clear and you felt in control, a specific time, any area of life, you know. Maybe it was during a project where you just absolutely crushed it, or maybe it was a moment where you owned your expertise, or maybe it was something that you did with your family, or maybe it was in your health and fitness. It doesn't matter, because if you've done it in one area of life, you can do it in another area of life. So, whatever that moment was, step into that moment, step into that version of yourself. What did you do? How did you carry yourself? What decisions did you make? What was your mindset? How did you communicate? Look for what was different in that situation, because you don't need to feel confident first. Just act as if you already are. The confidence will catch up.
Speaker 1:Number three define your personal strengths. Everybody has them. We are all born with gifts and we develop gifts as we go through life. If you don't take the opportunity to define your strengths, your brain will default to uncertainty, and when you're unclear about your value, well, imposter syndrome is sure to follow. So try this quick exercise List five moments that you are proud of in your career. If you can't think of any in your career, I sincerely encourage you to think a little harder. Give yourself some time. But if not, five moments where you're proud of in your life, it all matters. You have a personal life, a professional life, but you're one person. Look for the patterns. What skills or qualities show up when you consider these five moments? And then, hey, those are your personal strengths. This is your competitive advantage, your clarity advantage, what you bring to the table. This is what you can rely on when self-doubt kicks in. So, instead of letting your mind spiral in a negative way, go back to what you know that you're great at, and how is it that you can apply it to the current situation?
Speaker 1:Number four stop overthinking. Make your next clear move. Overthinking is imposter syndrome, best friend. The more you analyze, the more you're going to convince yourself that you're not ready. So instead, pick one small step that moves you forward. It doesn't matter how tiny it is. Do it within 48 hours and then keep going with it. Keep doing this. What is the next small step? Do it within 48 hours.
Speaker 1:If you get yourself into this cycle, then that action is going to build your confidence instead of staying stuck and letting uncertainty surround you. Confidence isn't something that you wait for. It's something you create by taking action. So clarity first, confidence follows. So overcoming imposter syndrome isn't about faking it until you making it. It is about getting clear on your strengths, it is about you defining your path and it is about taking action, because when you know exactly what you bring to the table, you stop questioning whether you belong. So, after all of this, what is your next clear move.
Speaker 1:Well, I'm so glad that you asked. I want you to consider what is one thing that you can get clear on from what I shared with you today that is going to help you step into a more confident version of you in your leadership journey, in your success. Write it down, commit to it, write it on your calendar, put it in your digital calendar whatever you need to do and what action you're going to take to move in that direction. And, hey, if you would like more insights on clarity-driven confidence resources, then head on over to my website. I got a lot there for you. You can go to wwwdebbiepetersonspeakscom. And until the next time, here is wishing you all the clarity that you deserve and be good to yourself. Bye-bye for now.
Speaker 2:Thank you for listening to this episode of the Getting to Clarity podcast with Debbie Peterson, If you enjoyed this show. Bye-bye for now.
