Imposter Syndrome at Work: Why Success Still Doesn’t Feel Like Enough

Imposter syndrome at work isn’t just a lack of confidence. It’s the confusing experience of having confidence in your abilities – and still doubting yourself.

Imposter Syndrome [noun]: Feeling undeserving of success; fear that people will find out you’re not good enough.

It sounds like this:

• “You’re not enough.”

• “You should’ve done more.”

• “They’re going to find out.”

That voice tells you to push harder, overprepare, and keep proving yourself. But even when you succeed, it never feels like enough.

👎 The result? You’re working twice as hard just to convince yourself you belong.

💔 That chronic self-questioning erodes your confidence, drains your energy, and keeps moving the goalpost.

📈 And you’re not alone – research shows at least 70% of professionals experience imposter syndrome at work.

The Imposter Syndrome Spiral After Setbacks at Work

You miss a deadline. You get tough feedback. Something doesn’t go as planned.

Here comes the spiral:

• “Everyone’s going to know I’m not good enough.”

• “I’ve ruined my reputation.”

• “I’m going to lose my job.”

One stumble feels like proof that you never belonged in the first place.

The Imposter Syndrome Spiral After Success at Work

Here’s the plot twist: imposter syndrome shows up after good outcomes, too.

You nail the presentation. You hit your numbers. You get the recognition.

And still, the thoughts creep in:

• “That wasn’t enough.”

• “I should’ve done better.”

• “Next time, I’ll probably fail.”

Instead of feeling proud or grounded, you feel anxious, pressured to prove yourself again, and worried others will notice the mistakes you made.

Breaking the Cycle

Whether it’s a setback or a success, imposter syndrome tells a distorted story – one that minimizes your strengths and magnifies your doubts.

As I shared in a recent masterclass:

“A lot of times we will have our helpful imposter reflecting on us, but it’s reflecting a very skewed story... it becomes disproportionate to all the things we did well.”

Confidence isn’t about never messing up – and it’s not about hitting the next achievement to finally feel worthy.

It’s about building the capacity to handle both wins and losses without spiraling into shame or self-doubt.

That’s one of the most meaningful shifts I help clients make: learning how to trust their success, keep perspective, and move forward without the constant pressure of “not enough.”

Here's how you can disrupt the cycle

1. Name it when it shows up. Notice the “I’m not enough” voice and call it what it is – imposter syndrome, not fact. And remember: it’s normal.

2. Balance the story. Write down two or three things you did well, even in a setback. This helps retrain your brain to step back and see the full picture.

3. Pause before proving. Instead of jumping straight into overwork or over-prep, ask yourself: What would be “enough” in this situation? What really matters? What would be a waste of time and energy?

👉 Breaking the cycle is possible, but it’s hard to do on your own. The good news? You don’t have to. If you're ready to quiet your imposter syndrome and tap into your confidence, let’s talk. Schedule a conversation with me here.