Imposter syndrome…

Many of my coaching clients, at Google and elsewhere, suffer from imposter syndrome. Helping them to get over it, to thrive and grow, is a big part of what I do. It's not just an issue when you first join a company, it can come back when you get promoted, switch teams, or are given a new challenge.

I recall in my first week at Google, two engineers came over to my desk and said, "We're struggling to figure something out, can you help?". My gut reaction was, "Given how smart you both are, I honestly doubt that I can". After a few minutes of discussion, lots of questions and few suggestions, one of them said, "Actually that'll work — we'll do that, thank you". It was a small early win, and it helped me to feel more confident about my ability to contribute.

At innovative companies, when you're doing something that's never been done before, it's quite natural to feel "I'm not sure I can do this...". Being able to add "but let's see!" can make a big difference. That's an oversimplification, of course, since everyone's situation is unique.