Leading a team of brilliant, talented people is one of the most rewarding challenges in any career. But it often comes with a silent, persistent companion: imposter syndrome. When you're at a company considered the best of the best, that voice of doubt can get deafeningly loud.
Am I good enough? Am I smart enough? Am I strong enough?
Before you know it, that internal anxiety begins to color your perception of your team. Are they good enough? Are we prepared for what's next? These thoughts are thieves, stealing your focus and robbing you of your true potential as a leader.
So, how do you overcome it? How do you balance the immense responsibility of leadership without letting it consume you? While I haven’t mastered it—and I suspect no one ever truly does—I’ve learned to manage that inner critic. The secret isn't about becoming someone else; it's about committing to the person you already are. You, with the help of others, have gotten yourself to this point. Your ability to stay true to yourself is the most powerful tool in your leadership arsenal.
Here’s how to put that principle into practice.
1. Build Your "Work Family": Culture as a Shield
For me, staying authentic means cultivating a family-like culture. This isn't about forced fun or pretending we're not at work. It's about building a foundation of psychological safety and trust so that when challenges inevitably arise, the “family” is ready to face them together. When you lead from this place, you create an environment where even the toughest conversations come from a place of empathy and a shared desire for success. Feedback becomes a gift, not an attack. Problems become collective puzzles to solve, not individual failures to assign blame for.
2. Be Fearless: Manage Up, Down, and Sideways
An authentic leader cannot be a silent one. You must be willing to manage in all directions: up to your own leaders, sideways with your peers, and down to your team. This is a non-negotiable at every level. Too often, we fear speaking up, especially to senior leadership. But you must.
"Change will never happen if you never voice how you feel."
Voicing your opinions, concerns, or even your kudos does two critical things: First, it empowers you. I promise that when you respectfully bring your voice to your leadership, you will feel better. You've done your part. You have shared your perspective. Second, it protects your integrity. You can still have reservations about a new direction while giving it 100% of your effort. In fact, you must give it your all. But by voicing your concerns beforehand, you’ve established your position. It allows you to commit fully to the execution while remaining true to your own strategic thoughts.
3. Embrace the Role of the Positive Disruptor
I choose to be a disruptor. I choose to push the envelope—not just with my own leadership, but with my team. True growth only happens at the edge of your comfort zone. The moment you stop pushing, you plateau. Your skills stagnate, your adaptability wanes, and your progress grinds to a halt. Encourage your team to question the status quo. Challenge them with projects that stretch their abilities. By creating a culture where it's safe to step outside the familiar, you build a resilient, innovative, and highly engaged team.
Your Leadership Compass: Define Your Core Values
So how do you stay grounded through all this? Your personal core values are the foundation you stand on. They are your non-negotiables. For me, these values were forged during my time in the U.S. Air Force, and they remain my compass today:
- Service Before Self
- Integrity First
- Excellence In All We Do
I combine these with the core values of my company:
- Customer Success
- Trust
- Sustainability
- Innovation
- Equality
When woven together, they create a leadership philosophy centered on commitment—to the team, to the customer, and to the future. Find your values, write them down, and let them guide your every decision. You can't go wrong there.
Leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about having the courage to lead from a place of authenticity, to build a culture of trust, and to bravely voice the ideas that will drive real change. Tame the imposter, and lead on.