70% of the world’s population suffers from it at least once in their lifetime. This figure, revealed by the Journal of Behavioral Science, refers to an ever-present shadow: imposter syndrome. It’s a lingering sense of self-doubt that makes you question your legitimacy when you speak up, assert your authority, or take on a new challenge. In 2026, is it time to start silencing that inner voice? Here are some keys to help you finally regain control.

Tips for combating imposter syndrome

Ah yes! Impostor syndrome: that pesky inner voice most of us carry, ready to pipe up the moment we’re asked to prove our worth, assert our authority, or start something new. 

Many people struggle with impostor syndrome. At times it stops you in your tracks, causes you to pass up opportunities, or has you feeling so uneasy that even when you’re doing good work, it leaves you with a knot in your stomach, the fear of being ‘found out’, ruled out, or rejected for the tiniest slip-up. 

Let’s stop overthinking for a moment, and learn a few tips on how to get rid of that imposter syndrome and push back the fear that your world will collapse if you turn out to be less than perfect.

Let’s start by talking about it.

According to the Journal of Behavioral Science, 70% of the world’s population experiences the impostor syndrome at least once in their lives, whatever their gender or professional background. That’s a lot of people going around questioning their competence, worrying themselves sick, and bending over backwards to attribute their success to sheer luck, or to having somehow piggybacked on other people’s work. 

Try admitting to a few people close to you that you struggle with impostor syndrome—there’s a seven-in-ten chance they’ll reply, “Oh! Me too!” Doesn’t it feel good to know that you’re not alone? 

Have you ever come into contact with actual imposters?

Do you feel illegitimate and does that feeling make you anxious? This isn’t such bad news because it shows you are neither a fraudster nor a psychopath. Because those people are utterly shameless: they pass themselves off as genius painters, selling supposedly priceless works that are nothing more than forgeries; they worm their way into celebrity circles, posing as brilliant investors so they can drain bank accounts; or they present themselves as renowned doctors without a single degree or a day’s medical training behind them. 

Sound familiar? These stories charting the rise of such impostors are fascinating because they tap into a fear all of us carry somewhere inside: the fear of one day losing our grip on reality. But there are boundaries. Reworking something that someone else has created on a day when your own brainpower has run dry is not the same as believing you really are the person you’re drawing inspiration from. 

Let’s be clear. ‘Enhancing’ your CV by inflating the scope of your responsibilities in a past position is not the same as inventing an entire career for which you have none of the skills and experience. 

All of us, without exception, find ourselves at times negotiating between ends and means—bending the rules a little, making small transgressions, or tweaking reality to protect our egos. It’s human and it certainly doesn’t make you an imposter! 

Breaking free from the Möbius complex

Put simply, we place a great deal of moral importance on questions of competence, status, and responsibility. Doesn’t this sound a bit like the Möbius complex? And results in a lot of people pleasing. 

Remember the complex? It happens when you confuse working well with being a good person. When a child behaves well in class, they internalize the idea that giving satisfaction means not disturbing the teacher, and when their parents congratulate them on good grades, they feel they are more deserving of their love.

This pattern of behavior follows us around for a long, long time… So, in the world of work, which is full of paradoxical injunctions, ambiguities about expectations, gaps between formal demands and unwritten rules, it is not uncommon to encounter a decisional dilemma, or even a complete conflict of loyalty. You’re encouraged to be ambitious; you’re told that potential matters more than achievements; your initiative and your ability to challenge yourself are valued.

So, you’re compliant (in your boldness) and apply for a position for which you don’t (yet) have all the necessary skills; you speak up about a subject outside your realm of expertise; you dare to try new things because you’ve been tasked with shaking things up. Except that when evening comes, when you look at yourself in the mirror at home, your head starts to feel a little dizzy, and you can’t help but wonder: did you go too far? 

How far is too far? Where to draw the line

In Western society, a successful career involves some element of risk. You have to dare to take the plunge, take a leap into the unknown and trust in your agility as well as your determination to move from one stage to the next. It’s a stimulating experience. 

But it also triggers a legitimate fear of failing. Fear creeps in at every key moment: you don’t even begin (‘I’ll never manage it anyway, I might as well give up now’), you lose momentum (‘What am I getting myself into? I need to slow down’), you buckle at obstacles (‘Okay, I’ll hop over this tiny hurdle, just to say I tried, and then pop back into my comfort zone’) and then at the end when you’ve made it (‘Wow, did I do it? No, it wasn’t really me, I couldn’t have done it alone, I had help.’).

The key: knowing when to push

It’s possible to say yes when you’re asked to go beyond your limits: but not without guarantees. First, take a realistic look at the skills you have acquired, the potential you have to develop, and what gaps you need to fill. 

When the people who encourage you to move forward truly know who you are, it becomes easier to stand by your expertise, without feeling that your weaknesses are under scrutiny. As a result, you share responsibility for the risk, if not of failure, then at least of controversy. It’s reassuring. 

Then start practicing. Ideally with the help of a supportive and challenging coach who allows you to define as precisely as possible what you feel capable of outside your comfort zone, and in what timeframe. 

Then it’s time to bring in sponsors. There’s no question of stepping into the spotlight without the backing of people who believe in your worth, people who will champion it, and even promote it better than you ever could, especially when self-doubt creeps in. Identify the steadfast few around you: the people who know you are not—by any stretch—the incompetent person you sometimes imagine yourself to be; who can also rein you in when a sense of invincibility threatens to take over; who keep you moving when you falter; and who reset the balance when your self-confidence takes a hit.