Imposter Syndrome: Beating Self-Doubt and Overcoming Feelings of Inadequacy

Dr. Orbé-Austin talks about the cycle of imposter syndrome, how to overcome it, the correlation between trauma and imposter syndrome, and the different ways in which imposter syndrome shows up.

Imposter Syndrome: Beating Self-Doubt and Overcoming Feelings of Inadequacy with Lisa Orbé-Austin

Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin is a psychologist, executive coach, organizational consultant, and speaker. She earned her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University. Her views about career advancement, job transitions, leadership, and diversity & inclusion are regularly sought by the media, and she has appeared in outlets such as The New York Times, NBC News, Forbes, The Huffington Post, Refinery29, Business Insider, and Insight Into Diversity. She has also been honored as a Top Voice on LinkedIn in the area of Job Search and Careers. Dr. Orbe Austin has been an invited speaker at various national conferences. She recently gave a TEDx talk entitled “The Impostor Syndrome Paradox.”

She regularly consults with organizations in the private sector, non-profits, and educational institutions in supporting their employees and senior leadership teams to address gender bias, diversity, equity, & inclusion concerns, leadership development, effective communication, team cohesion, and conflict management.

Her book, Own Your Greatness: Overcome Impostor Syndrome, Beat Self-Doubt, and Succeed in Life (Ulysses Press, 2020), co-authored with her partner, Dr. Richard Orbé-Austin, was released in April 2020. The book is a finalist for the 2020 Foreword INDIES Book Award.

Intro

Hello, everyone! Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin is on today’s show. Today, we talk about imposter syndrome, the importance of forgiveness, and externalizing negative thoughts. Dr. Orbé-Austin also talks about the imposter syndrome cycle, how to overcome it, the correlation between trauma and imposter syndrome, and the different ways in which imposter syndrome shows up.

Let’s dive in!

In this episode you’ll learn:

  • [07:35] A bit about Dr. Orbé-Austin.
  • [08:39] What is imposter syndrome?
  • [09:20] Having imposter syndrome.
  • [13:10] Where it shows up.
  • [15:58] Getting out of the cycle.
  • [21:58] Looking back and learning.
  • [24:57] Defining forgiveness.
  • [35:38] Externalising negative thoughts.
  • [37:06] The ego.
  • [38:20] The journey to letting go.
  • [40:33] Trauma and imposter syndrome.
  • [41:32] Who is the other 30%?
  • [43:08] Does it make you more successful?
  • [45:16] Surprises in Dr. Orbé-Austin’s journey.
  • [53:32] Dr. Orbé-Austin’s final thoughts.

 

Quotes:

  • “70% of people have imposter syndrome.” [08:28]
  • “It can show up anywhere where you function, where you feel like you have to be qualified to do something.” [13:53]
  • “One of the hallmarks of imposter syndrome is overestimating others and underestimating yourself.” [15:41]
  • “You don’t have to live with it forever.” [19:35]
  • “If you can’t forgive, it becomes really hard to let go.” [23:58]
  • “The forgiveness is for you.” [29:13]
  • “We’re so externally driven, trying to be what everyone wants us to be, we lose track of the self.” [37:55]
  • “You will do better without it than you will with it.” [44:24]
  • “When you work as hard for yourself as you do for others, you’re going to be unstoppable.” [53:09]

 

Links Mentioned: 

Connect with Dr. Orbé-Austin:

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