Permanent Imposter Syndrome – The Invisible Trap High-Achieving Women Don’t Talk About
- Brainz Magazine
- Jul 22
- 4 min read
Gaëlle is a renowned Visibility & Confidence Coach empowering senior women leaders to be seen, recognised, and valued. She is the founder of A Rockstar Mindset, co-author of Women Making A Difference, and UK Ambassador for Psychologies magazine. Gaëlle has been featured in NBC, CBS, and Psychologies.
Gorgeous! If I had received one dollar each time I heard this term, I would be a millionaire right now. The mention of this syndrome in headlines, inboxes, and leadership panels challenges me to stay calm and cool.
Gorgeous, I agree that we all need to work on our fears and limiting beliefs, but I’m so done with this one being reinforced by the mainstream.
At this point, it’s become a catch-all label. The more we use it, the more we attach ourselves to it, as if resolving this will be the magic wand to fix everything.
Guess what I’m talking about, Gorgeous? Imposter syndrome.
The truth is, everyone experiences it, but we never define it beforehand. We simply get on with things.
When you have your first job, you feel like an imposter.
When you’ve been in a room of people more talented than you, you feel like an imposter.
When you became a mum surrounded by mums who looked like being a mum was a nice walk in the park, you felt like an imposter.
Did you articulate your emotion as feeling like an imposter? No.
You felt discomfort. You learned. You adjusted. You grew.
That’s not imposter syndrome. That’s growth.
And let’s agree on one point: there’s nothing wrong with you.
Why? Feeling like an imposter is not an identity like a cape you’re going to wear for a while.
It’s a feeling, and feelings, by their nature, are impermanent. They are energies in motion.
The challenge?
When the world keeps telling you it’s a syndrome and you see it in the press, media, or conferences, they condition you to believe this is a big issue.
I don’t dismiss or try to downsize the effect of it, but I don’t want you, Gorgeous, to feel stuck because you experience it and believe this is part of your identity.
As a high performer,
As an overachiever,
As a firefighter,
It’s not.
It’s a feeling, not an identity.
It’s temporary, not permanent.
It’s a symptom, not a disease.
But if you let your intellect and inner child take the wheel, you’re going to fall into gaslighting mode: thinking that you’re not enough, questioning your decisions, second-guessing your instincts, being your harshest critic, ultimately feeling shame, and suffering in silence.
What’s dangerous isn’t the feeling itself, it’s when we internalize it and carry it for years. That’s what I call permanent imposter syndrome, and it’s quietly sabotaging brilliant women like you.
You over-prepare, over-deliver, over-work… and still feel like it’s not enough.
You compare yourself to louder, more confident peers.
You keep it quiet, hoping it will go away.
But Gorgeous, suffering in silence isn’t strength. It’s self-sabotage in action.
From self-questioning to self-leadership for women
So, what is the solution?
Remember, feeling like an imposter is a natural part of the learning process. You’ll experience it, but you have the choice to detach yourself from it by learning and accepting being a beginner.
Don’t judge a book by its cover. It’s not because people look confident that they are. Many people use the ‘fake it to make it’ mojo to play the game. It’s a direct ticket to turn your imposter syndrome into reality.
Stop suffering in silence. If feeling like an imposter is a permanent feeling that you carry for years, this is concerning, and it’s time to invest in yourself. The more you tolerate this feeling longer than necessary, the more it will sabotage all your career efforts to own your successes and make the impact you want.
Work on your self-confidence. When you develop self-confidence to mastery, imposter syndrome is not an issue; you recognize and accept it, but you don’t let it define your value and your worth.
If you've been feeling like an imposter for years and want to step into your visibility to make an impact, I invite you to book a Visibility Strategy Session.
Read more from Gaëlle Berruel
Gaëlle Berruel, Visibility & Confidence Coach, Motivational Speaker
Gaëlle is a leader in visibility and confidence coaching for senior women leaders. Seven years ago, she hid behind her laptop, longing to help women be recognised for their work and value.
Without a roadmap to visibility from a place of authority and authenticity, she created one, becoming the fullest expression of herself: radiant, fulfilled, and unapologetic. Today, as the CEO of A Rockstar Mindset, she empowers women to be visible, recognised, and make an impact. Gaëlle is a multi-award-winning coach, a sought-after speaker, and a best-selling author featured in top global publications. Her mission: You're a diamond in the rough. Let me help you to become the Rockstar of your life.
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