Insight Forge with Terry Mante: Confessions of a (Recovering) impostor

“Imposter syndrome reminds you that humility is the anchor of confidence.” – Terry Mante

Some mornings, I look at my calendar and think, “Who scheduled me to speak to a room full of CEOs about leadership strategy?” Then I realize it was me, and I briefly consider calling in sick.

It’s not that I don’t love what I do. I’ve built a career as a management consultant and corporate trainer. I’ve worked with organizations of all shapes and sizes, from start-ups trying to survive their first payroll to multinationals debating whether to call their next vision statement “ambitious” or “transformational.” And yet, every now and then, that little voice inside my head clears its throat and whispers: “You? The expert? Really?”

Ah yes, my old acquaintance, Imposter Syndrome. For those who haven’t had the pleasure of meeting it, imposter syndrome is that persistent fear that your achievements are flukes, that you don’t really deserve your success, and that sooner or later, someone will pull back the curtain and expose you as a fraud. It is surprisingly democratic; it visits top executives, entrepreneurs, teachers, and yes, even consultants.

My personal dance with doubt

When I first entered the consulting space, I was convinced that credibility required omniscience. I thought clients expected me to have all the answers, instantly and confidently. Strategy frameworks, leadership theories, change management models, global market insights… you name it, I felt I had to master it before I could deserve to sit at the table.

Every presentation felt like an audition. Every client meeting felt like an exam. I remember once spending an entire night re-reading a management book I had already taught from, just in case someone asked a question I couldn’t answer. The irony, of course, was that I was teaching leaders about self-confidence.

Over time, I realized something liberating: the people who seem to have it all figured out often don’t. They’re just better at navigating uncertainty. The difference between the confident and the doubtful is not that one knows more; it’s that one has learned to make peace with not knowing everything.

The truth is, nobody has it all figured out. We’re all learning, adapting, and occasionally pretending we meant to do that PowerPoint animation that just went wrong.

What the impostor taught me

After years of wrestling with that inner voice, here’s what I’ve learned, and continue to relearn, about living with and learning from imposter syndrome:

1. Doubt means you care. If you never question your work, you’re probably not paying attention. The presence of doubt isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s proof of professionalism. It shows you take your craft seriously enough to want to get it right.
2. Competence is a moving target. There’s always someone who knows more, has done more, or posts more confidently on LinkedIn. But growth doesn’t come from comparison; it comes from curiosity. The moment you think you’ve “arrived,” you stop learning, and that’s when the real danger begins.
3. Comparison is the thief of joy (and sanity). In a hyper-digital world, it’s easy to assume everyone else has their act together. But remember: you’re comparing your behind-the-scenes with their highlight reel. Nobody uploads their doubts, insecurities, or bad hair days.
4. Confidence is built, not bestowed. The more I showed up, trained teams, led sessions, made mistakes, and adjusted, the quieter the impostor became. Confidence doesn’t appear magically; it accumulates through action. You earn it by doing.
5. Authenticity beats authority. People don’t want perfect. They want real. I discovered that my most impactful sessions weren’t the ones where I dazzled people with frameworks, but the ones where I spoke honestly about the challenges of leadership, the messiness of change, and yes, the occasional self-doubt.

Making peace with the passenger

These days, when that familiar whisper comes around, usually right before a big keynote or an intimidating client engagement, I smile and say, “Thanks for the reminder that I’m still growing.” Then I step forward and do the work anyway.

Because imposter syndrome doesn’t always go away. It just learns to sit quietly in the passenger seat while you drive. And sometimes, it even keeps you grounded, reminding you that humility is not the opposite of confidence; it is its anchor.

So, to every professional, leader, or dreamer who sometimes feels like they’re “faking it,” here’s the truth: you’re not. You’re just becoming. And that, my friends, is the most authentic kind of success there is.

About the author

Terry Mante is a thought leader whose expression as an author, corporate trainer, management consultant, and speaker provides challenge and inspiration to add value to organizations and position individuals to function effectively. He is the Principal Consultant of Terry Mante Exchange (TMX). Connect with him on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads and TikTok @terrymante and www.terrymante.org.

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