7 Steps to Ditch Imposter Syndrome and Step Into Control
It started with John staring at the whiteboard in his office, marker in hand, planning his first-ever client workshop. He’d built a successful business, earned respect in his field, and was known for delivering real value to his clients. Yet here he was, frozen, convinced he was a fraud.
“Who am I to be running a workshop?” he muttered.
Welcome to the delightful world of imposter syndrome.
For John, this wasn’t just stage fright. It was a deep internal dialogue rooted in ADHD thinking, the kind that turns everything into black or white, all or nothing. Either he was a polished expert ready to dazzle a room full of executives, or he was an imposter who didn’t deserve to be there. No middle ground. No nuance. Just two extremes.
The spiral begins
Despite years of experience and successful projects, John found himself obsessing over every way things might go wrong. Would the content land? Would he stumble on a question? Would people realise he was making it up as he went along?
He started scanning his mental filing cabinet for evidence to confirm he didn’t belong. It’s amazing how quickly our brains can find reasons to back up a fear, especially when that fear is dressed up as “just being realistic.”
But here’s the rub. He wasn’t looking at what he brought to the table. He wasn’t focusing on the communication skills honed through hundreds of meetings. Or the insight he’d developed from supporting clients through complex challenges. Or the personal experience that helped him relate to others on a deeper level.
None of that seemed to count.
Because when you’re in the imposter mindset, your strengths vanish like socks in the tumble dryer.
Reframing the fear
In our coaching session, we stopped. Breathed. And looked back.
I asked John to think of a time he’d been out of his depth before and it had gone well. He paused. Then remembered the first time he brought on a major client. He was completely new to that world. He felt raw, unqualified, and unsure whether he could deliver. But he stepped up, found his way through, and the client was delighted.
That experience mattered. Not because it made him an expert overnight, but because it proved he could learn, adapt, and thrive under pressure.
Reclaiming control
We broke things down.
First, he identified the biggest trigger: the fear of things going wrong on the day. Not because he lacked knowledge, but because he feared being overwhelmed and making a silly mistake.
Second, we looked at how to regain control:
- Checklist everything. He mapped out the whole event timeline and created a practical checklist. Not just what he needed to bring or say, but how he would prepare emotionally too.
- Structure the day. Setting clear client expectations in advance would help him avoid unnecessary pressure.
- Have a pause plan. If overwhelm hit, he’d have a plan to take a breather. A few deep breaths. A short walk. A gentle reset.
- Identify backup. Just like having a good assistant on a high-pressure job, he realised he could ask for help or bring in a colleague to handle the parts that weren’t his strength.
But there was another piece missing.
It’s okay to wing it
Sometimes, you will forget something. You might even make a mistake. That’s not failure, it’s just being human. Give yourself permission not to know everything. Allow yourself to figure out some of the details on the day. You’ve done it before, and you’ll do it again.
You’ve got creative talent. You’re quick thinking. If something unexpected happens, you’ll handle it. You’ll adapt. That’s what you do best.
And here’s the part John needed to hear most: your clients already believe in you. The only person telling you that you’re an imposter is you. After all, they’ve booked out their time and invested it with you. Nobody chooses to do that with someone they don’t trust.
Even the best professionals face situations they’ve never seen before. They still turn up, figure it out, and wing it where they need to. So can you.
What are you telling yourself?
This was the turning point in our conversation. John realised it wasn’t the job that was the issue. It was the story he was telling himself about the job. His inner critic had taken the wheel. And it was time to take it back.
We asked:
- What have I already done that proves I can handle this?
- What structure do I need to put in place to feel in control?
- Who can I ask for support?
- What’s my checklist, my pause plan, my prep routine?
He wrote out a list. He contacted two trusted people to support him. He planned time to prepare and time to rest. He thought about how he wanted to show up, not just for the event, but for himself.
And slowly, he moved from “I’m a fraud” to “I’m in control.”
ADHD and imposter syndrome
People with ADHD often see the world through extremes. You’re either on top of everything or dropping all the balls. There’s often no room for good enough. Which makes it easy for imposter syndrome to take hold.
But remember, imposter syndrome isn’t a sign of failure. It’s a sign of growth.
It shows you care. It means you’re stretching into new territory. And just because you haven’t done something yet, doesn’t mean you’re not qualified to do it.
Final thoughts
John didn’t need to “fix” himself. He needed to see himself more clearly.
He wasn’t a fraud. He was a work in progress. A person growing into something new. Someone willing to care, prepare, and show up.
You might feel like an imposter. But that doesn’t mean you are one.
Imposter syndrome is a signpost, not a stop sign. Keep going. And give yourself the credit you deserve.
👉 Book your free call with Michael Ross – ADHD Coach and Trainer ADHD Coaching Discovery Session today 📅and take the first steps to lose your imposter syndrome
See here for 7 ADHD Spring Clean Steps to Tidy Your Space, and Take Back Control