The Most Destructive Imposter Syndrome Is The One You Don’t Know You Have

• Discover the hidden form of imposter syndrome that may be quietly limiting your potential.
• Learn why imagination, not confidence, is the key to breaking free from self-imposed limits.
• Get practical steps to start building your "world-class" self.

In The Obstacle Is the Way, there's a line that has always stuck with me: "The obstacle defines the path."

Picture this: You're walking into a high-stakes board meeting, preparing to lead a critical financial review. You've done the prep work, reviewed the data, and you know the material - but there's still a voice whispering, "Will they see through me?" or "Am I really the right person for this?" This is the classic form of imposter syndrome, the one most of us are familiar with. It's that gnawing feeling that, no matter how qualified we are, someone will expose us as inadequate, or worse, as a fraud.

We all have our ways of preparing for this. Some of us meticulously double-check our work; others rehearse presentations until they're second nature. In a way, it's predictable. We anticipate these challenges, prepare for them, and find ways to overcome them.

In these situations, confidence is our weapon. We know when to summon it, even if it's challenging. But what if there's another, more insidious form of imposter syndrome? One that sneaks past us undetected, camouflaged within our own sense of reality? The kind that doesn't tell you outright, "You're a fraud," but rather quietly suggests, "You're only capable of this much." It's the imposter syndrome that limits us without ever being seen. I'm talking about the imposter syndrome you don't know you have.

This hidden imposter syndrome thrives on untested assumptions and restrained ambitions. And because it doesn't declare itself, it's even more destructive.

It's the quiet belief that your current role is the only space where you can be effective and that leading outside your comfort zone just "isn't you." It's not a lack of confidence that holds you back here. It's a lack of imagination about who you could be.

And that's where the real obstacle lies.

You may not even realise this type of imposter syndrome is at play because it's masked as realism or pragmatism, qualities typically prized in a CFO. But it's limiting your potential, whether you recognise it or not.

 

Here are some ways it can subtly hold you back:

• Unconscious Limiting Beliefs: Believing you're only capable in your current role, with little room for expansion.
• Restrained Ambitions: Not considering career moves or projects that don't feel immediately "achievable" or "realistic."
• Self-Identified Labels: Thinking, "I'm a numbers person" or "I'm just here to manage the finances."

 

It has nothing to do with skills or experience. It's the absence of vision—the failure to imagine yourself stepping up in ways you've never tried before. And this has nothing to do with capability and everything to do with self-perception.

Traditional imposter syndrome is a confidence game: if you can summon enough self-belief, you can push through the doubt. But overcoming the quieter, unseen imposter syndrome demands something deeper - imagination. It demands giving yourself permission to envision an entirely new scope of possibility.

For CFOs, this exercise is particularly transformative because, as financial stewards, we're often trained to look at risk before opportunity. Imagination gives us permission to reverse that order, to dream first and plan the path later.

 

If you suspect this hidden imposter syndrome is at play, here are some steps to help you move past it:

If your cheeks flush or your stomach churns as you outline the steps, take it as a good sign. Growth isn't supposed to be comfortable; real transformation feels unsettling.

Growth is rarely a smooth, easy journey. It's more like the steep climb of a rollercoaster: intimidating, uncomfortable, and, let's be honest, often a bit terrifying. But just as that climb ultimately leads to the exhilarating descent, pushing through the discomfort of growth offers a payoff that makes it all worthwhile.

Interestingly, fear and excitement are essentially the same emotion, chemically speaking. Your body's response to both is almost identical - it's your perspective that determines how you experience it.

Next time you feel that nervous buzz, reframe it. Instead of thinking, "I'm afraid," tell yourself, "I'm excited about what's possible." This simple shift changes your focus from dread to anticipation.

If you feel uncomfortable imagining yourself in a larger role, take it as a signal that you're on the right track. Growth doesn't happen in your comfort zone. Lean into that discomfort - it's the very thing that will push you toward bigger achievements.

As you work through these steps, keep in mind the quote I mentioned above from The Obstacle Is the Way: "The obstacle defines the path."

 

The CFO Boardroom is my signature program, where CFOs connect with a confidential community of peers, ready to make a larger impact and elevate the role of CFO over the next 12 months. Our December intake is now open.

 

 

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