+44 (0) 7941 690391 447490373980
     
Dave Cordle

The Blog Of Dave Cordle

The Career Mountaineer ...

Practical ways to overcome imposter syndrome at work

Dave Cordle

CREATED BY DAVE CORDLE

Published: 23/10/2025 @ 09:01AM

#overcomeimpostersyndromeatwork #workplaceconfidence #professionalgrowth #mentalhealth #ukcareers #selfdoubt

Here's how to overcome imposter syndrome at work with clear, practical steps. You'll reframe self-doubt, track wins, and seek proper support. It's a calm plan for everyday workplace confidence and professional growth ...

Overcomiong imposter syndrome at work, I stand tall and true, I am more than my doubts!

Overcomiong imposter syndrome at work, I stand tall and true, I am more than my doubts!

You're not alone if you sometimes question whether you belong. The first quiet step is to notice the feeling without judgment, so you can start to overcome imposter syndrome with clarity rather than panic.

Build some workplace confidence first!

You do this by naming what's real and what's a story, asking yourself what evidence you actually have, and writing down concrete outcomes, feedback, and skills so your brain has facts to consult when self-doubt tries to rewrite history.

You will find your inner dialogue shifts when you challenge the unhelpful soundtrack, replacing "I got lucky" with "I prepared well", and "I don't know enough" with "I'm learning fast", which supports professional growth without pretending you must be perfect.

You strengthen mental health when you talk about these feelings with a trusted colleague, mentor, or friend, because hearing the phrase, “Oh, that's happened to me too!” reduces isolation and gives you balanced feedback you can act on, especially within competitive industries.

You can reinforce progress by keeping a private wins log, noting outcomes, decisions, and small daily contributions. Then, refresh it just before reviews, interviews, or big meetings so your confidence rests on data, not your mood.

You accelerate learning when you treat mistakes as experiments, run post‑mortems that ask what worked, what didn't, and what to try next, and then document new practices so setbacks become deliberate steps forward rather than proof of inadequacy.

And you can improve your overall confidence by identifying triggers - perhaps presenting to senior leaders, starting new roles, or vague briefs - and creating pre-commitment routines such as clarifying goals, rehearsing openings, and scheduling buffer time to regulate nerves.

Make support tangible by finding a mentor!

Your new career coach will review your work, help you set development goals, and provide honest, specific feedback; this external calibration reduces self-doubt because you're no longer judging in a vacuum.

You can reinforce this by investing in self‑care that actually moves the needle:

  • adequate sleep,
  • short walks,
  • mindful breathing before high‑stakes meetings,
  • and deliberate downtime,

All of which stabilise your mood and sharpen your thinking for now and for your future career journey.

This way, you can gain clarity instead of panic and eliminate imposter syndrome at work.

Until next time ...


DAVE CORDLE
Career Development Professional

07941 690 391

www.davecordle.co.uk / www.linkedin.com/in/davecordle

Everything you need for your career:  www.davecordle.co.uk/basecamp

Would you like to know more?

If anything in my blog post resonates with you and you'd like some further help and advice with your career, then why not get in touch today? Call me on 07941 690391, visit my website at davecordle.co.uk to see ways I can help and support you, or connect with me on LinkedIn and let's start a conversation.

Share the blog love ...

Share this to FacebookBuffer
Share this to FacebookFacebook
Share this to TwitterTwitter
Share this to Linkedin (popup window)Linkedin
Share this to Pinterest (popup window)Pinterest
Share this to WhatsApp (popup window)WhatsApp

#overcomeimpostersyndromeatwork #workplaceconfidence #professionalgrowth #mentalhealth #ukcareers #selfdoubt

About Dave Cordle ...

Dave Cordle 

I began my professional life training as a cartographer with the Directorate of Overseas Surveys, a department of the British government. I made maps of places such as Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Sudan and the British Virgin Islands. It was a fascinating time, being involved in planning the flights for aerial photography, interpreting the photographs and eventually producing the plates for the different layers of the final map.

It was during my latter years as a cartographer and my career in computing that I undertook bigger mountaineering expeditions to the Andes, the Himalayas, the Tien Shan and the Caucasus. At that time I also held various leadership roles in scouting. I coached and trained young people successfully leading them to develop themselves and embrace new experiences. So that’s where my passion comes from to help young people learn the strategies for success that I share with my business and career clients.

My journey in personal professional development and coaching has been amazing, and will continue to be so: it’s why I’m here, it’s my big passion. It’s what has informed my vision and mission.

However unlikely your dream might seem, if you keep taking steps towards it, even small steps, you may well just surprise yourself.

More blog posts for you to enjoy ...

Click here to view this blog post


Key skills for job hunting: the habits that get you hired

You don't need luck; you need repeatable habits. This blog post breaks down the key skills for job hunting, from research and networking to CV writing and interview skills. Use them consistently, and you'll move through the U...

Click here to view this blog post


Three practical habits for better wellbeing in 2026 at work

Here are three easy habits to make wellbeing in 2026 feel doable at work. You'll lower stress, protect your attention, and build steadier joy without overhauling your life. Think small actions, repeated daily, with real impac...

Click here to view this blog post


You've been made redundant? Let's separate you from the job

If you've been made redundant, it can feel personal, but it isn't. The role has gone, not your strengths, experience or future. Let's reset the story and get you steady, practical and moving again ......

Click here to view this blog post


Three Practical Steps to advance your career in 2026

Want to advance your career in 2026 without overcomplicating it? Set a daily intention, use a career coach to sharpen your decisions, and take small actions consistently. It's practical career planning that compounds fast ......

Click here to view this blog post


Merry Christmas, and a thoughtful toast to the year ahead

Merry Christmas to one and all. This is a warm invitation to pause, and take time to dream of 2026, and align work with life-giving inspiration. It's reflective, friendly, and hopeful ......

Click here to view this blog post


10 ways to relax and recharge over the festive period for career clarity in the New Year

Here are 10 ways to relax and recharge over the festive period without losing career momentum. It blends rest with light learning to reduce stress. Use these great ideas to reset, reflect, and return ready ......

Click here to view this blog post


Reflections and forward thinking for a sharper year ahead

Here's a crisp guide to reflections and forward thinking, so you cut friction, double down on what works, and add habits that elevate. It's practical, strategic, and human. You'll step into the year with clarity, energy, and ...

Click here to view this blog post


What to do when you feel stuck: practical steps to regain momentum

Here's what to do when you feel stuck: reflect on what energised you, run small experiments, and ask for help early. This friendly guide gives practical steps for clarity and momentum. It's for graduates and mid‑career change...

Other bloggers you may like ...

Click here to view this blog post


Workation in Milton Keynes: Work Smarter, Switch Off Faster

Posted by Emily Freeman on https://blog.shortstay-mk.co.uk

Thinking about a Workation? Milton Keynes makes it simple to stay productive without feeling stuck. You get strong connections for work and plenty of ...

Click here to view this blog post


Scrapping Directors' Reports: More companies to become exempt

Posted by Roger Eddowes on https://blog.essendonaccounts.co.uk

Scrapping directors' reports is the government's latest push to simplify annual reporting. More firms could qualify for a strategic reporting exemptio ...

Click here to view this blog post


Practical email management to end small business inbox overwhelm

Posted by Sarah Hannaford on https://blog.sarahpasolutions.co.uk

If your inbox is running your business, you're not alone. This blog post shows how email management reduces overwhelm through smart prioritisation, fi ...

Click here to view this blog post


Rethinking Added Value: Beyond more clients or your day rate

Posted by Jacky Sherman on https://www.jackysherman.com

'Added value' - it's a phrase we hear all the time, isn't it? And almost always, when consultants talk about it, they're thinking about their pricing ...

Click here to discover sBlogIt! The done-for-you blogging service