Female leadership: 2 steps to get out of impostor syndrome

During the week of International Women's Rights Day in March 2019, we wanted to reaffirm our commitment to gender diversity in companies and the development of female leadership through a series of videos on the subject. For more than 10 years, Talentis has supported several dozen major groups in the development of real diversity policies at all levels of the organization. Among other things, we organize seminars to enable talented women to develop their leadership and give their professional careers the full dimension they deserve. Find below episode 2 of this series: “Female leadership: 2 steps to get out of impostor syndrome”.

Female leadership: Talentis' expertise for more than 10 years

Valérie Rocoplan, CEO of Talentis and Professional Coach: “This week is marked by International Women's Rights Day. To this end, Talentis reiterates its deep conviction in the interest of Diversity in companies and will share with you some videos around the areas on which we work: How can women's ambition be encouraged? How to give them all the cards in hand so that she takes their rightful place in the company? How to raise awareness among managers, managers and all employees about the fundamental subject of diversity in companies?Today, we are going to talk about impostor syndrome. We know, because we work with a lot of men and women in companies, that it is sometimes difficult for some women to project themselves into a professional project or a new position, without having all the skills. Hence, sometimes, the possibility of experiencing a feeling of imposture.Let's listen to Gaëlle Coqueblin, Professional Coach on the subject.

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What is impostor syndrome?

This syndrome can take several shapes. The first is not feeling legitimate to apply for a new job because you imagine that you need 100% of the skills to be able to access it.Another way to experience this imposture syndrome is to believe that if I do my job well, if I do my job well, if I reach my goals, someone will necessarily think of me for the next one.

How do you get out of impostor syndrome?

To get out of impostor syndrome, there is an antidote, it is to make myself visible. To make yourself visible, I suggest three steps.

Step 1: Take stock today.

What are the three achievements I am most proud of? What talent and skill did I use to succeed? What was the impact for my management and my business? It is important that the start-up be done in a very concrete and pragmatic way, to make myself visible by making my successes visible. Asking for feedback from people you've worked with can be a good and very enlightening complement.

Step 2: Plan yourself.

After taking stock, the second step is to project myself a little further, to reflect on my aspirations. What is the next professional step for me in a year, in two years? A logical step? A step perhaps a bit more challenging? What stage would I want to go to if I had a magic wand? This stage makes it possible to open up the field of possibilities and also to broaden the perspective of time. My dream may be far away, but it can come true through successive steps.

Step 3: talk about it around me.

Once my inspirations have been clarified, my achievements and skills identified, is it time to talk about them around me, to train quietly, to have direct, clear and impacting communication? Come on, in under two minutes? With whom do I want to test my project? Who can have both a benevolent eye and also the ability to challenge me to go a step further. Once you have confidence, it is also time to talk about it more widely and who knows, take stock, project me, talk about it. And you? When do you start? !