Stop Calling It Imposter Syndrome (It's Making Things Worse)

"Imposter syndrome" gets thrown around constantly in leadership spaces. But what if the label itself is doing more harm than good? Dr. Mira Brancu breaks down why the original researchers never called it a "syndrome" and what that distinction actually means for high achievers. If you've ever been promoted into a leadership role and suddenly felt like you had no idea what you were doing, this episode explains why that's not a flaw. It's the normal experience of someone learning a completely new skill set that nobody trained them for. Mira also gets real about why this hits harder for women and marginalized professionals, and draws a clear line between the kind of self-doubt that comes with growth and the kind that needs clinical support. Whether you're navigating this yourself or trying to support someone who is, this conversation will change how you think about it. Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, resilience, and the hard skills nobody teaches you. Timestamps : 00:00 - "It's Not a Symptom. It's a Signal." 00:35 - The Phrase That's Making Everything Harder 01:00 - Why Calling It a “Syndrome” Is Dangerous 02:22 - What Growth Actually Feels Like (GOLDEN NUGGET) 03:05 - The Brutal Reality of Becoming a Leader in High-Pressure Industries 04:49 - Why Some People Are Set Up to Feel Like Imposters 05:35 - How to Actually Help Someone Who Feels This Way 06:39 - When Self-Doubt Crosses the Line 07:25 - The One Question to Ask Yourself Next Time To find more of my work: Subscribe to this channel Subscribe to my free newsletter at: mailchi.mp/2079c04f4d44/subscribe Work with me one-on-one: calendly.com/mira-brancu/30-minute-initial-consultation Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/MiraBrancu Learn more about my services: www.gotowerscope.com Get practical workplace politics tips from my books: gotowerscope.com/books Get my free Strategic Clarity and Leadership Resilience assessment: https://mailchi.mp/e1ebf8505764/slr-a... Get my Free Burnout Root Cause Assessment: https://mailchi.mp/29d7d18fae4a/burno... Get my Workplace Grief Guide: https://mailchi.mp/46873b910380/workp... Find other free resources to support your leadership growth: https://gotowerscope.com/other-free-s... Join the next Towerscope leadership workshop or fellowship: https://gotowerscope.com/fellowship Episodes and other resources referenced: https://gotowerscope.com/fellowship Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The imposter phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 15(3), 241–247. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0086006 - https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1979-2... Watch this next:    • 3 Reasons Smart Leaders Can’t Say No (Burn...   #thehardskills #mirabrancu #selfawareness #leadershipdevelopment #emotionalintelligence #executivecoaching