Stop Calling It Imposter Syndrome (It's Making Things Worse)

"Imposter syndrome" gets thrown around constantly in leadership spaces. But what if the label itself is doing more harm than good?Dr. Mira Brancu breaks down why the original researchers never called it a "syndrome" and what that distinction actually means for high achievers. If you've ever been promoted into a leadership role and suddenly felt like you had no idea what you were doing, this episode explains why that's not a flaw. It's the normal experience of someone learning a completely new skill set that nobody trained them for. Mira also gets real about why this hits harder for women and marginalized professionals, and draws a clear line between the kind of self-doubt that comes with growth and the kind that needs clinical support. Whether you're navigating this yourself or trying to support someone who is, this conversation will change how you think about it.Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, resilience, and the hard skills nobody teaches you.To find more of my work:Subscribe to this channelSubscribe to my free newsletter at: mailchi.mp/2079c04f4d44/subscribeWork with me one-on-one: calendly.com/mira-brancu/30-minute-initial-consultationConnect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/MiraBrancuLearn more about my services: www.gotowerscope.comGet practical workplace politics tips from my books: gotowerscope.com/booksGet my free Strategic Clarity and Leadership Resilience assessment: https://mailchi.mp/e1ebf8505764/slr-assessment Get my Free Burnout Root Cause Assessment: https://mailchi.mp/29d7d18fae4a/burnout-root-cause-assessmentGet my Workplace Grief Guide: https://mailchi.mp/46873b910380/workplace-grief-field-guide Find other free resources to support your leadership growth: https://gotowerscope.com/other-free-stuff Join the next Towerscope leadership workshop or fellowship: https://gotowerscope.com/fellowship Episodes and other resources referenced:https://gotowerscope.com/fellowship Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The imposter phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 15(3), 241–247. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0086006 - https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1979-26502-001