Impostor Syndrome

by Carolyn Herfurth

6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

CCEs: 1.50 (0.75 core/0.75 resource)

Up to 82% of people — CEOs and entry-level professionals, first year college students and PhDs, artists and programmers — secretly worry they’re not as smart or talented or qualified as other people “think” they are.

It’s called impostor syndrome.

Left unchecked, it can lead to costly consequences not only for individuals but for their organizations as well.

This multifaceted topic has been oversimplified — yet demands a nuanced solution from those we turn to most often: coaches.

LIST THREE TO FIVE PRIMARY LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Understand what impostor syndrome is — and what it is not
• How impostor syndrome is easily confused with low self-esteem, self-doubt, or other factors that hold clients back
• How to identify impostor syndrome in your clients
• The costs and consequences of impostor syndrome
• The mistakes coaches make that actually harm instead of help your clients progress — and what to do instead

LIST THREE TO FIVE EXPECTED OUTCOMES:

• Understand the Nuances of Impostor Syndrome – Develop a clear understanding of what impostor syndrome is — and what it is not differentiating it from factors like low self-esteem and self-doubt. As well as an introduction to competence distortions.
• Recognize Impostor Behaviors in Clients – Learn to identify specific behaviors and thought patterns that indicate impostor syndrome in clients, including perfectionism, procrastination, over-preparation, and externalizing success.
• Explore the Costs and Consequences – Examine the individual, team, and organizational impacts of impostor syndrome, enabling coaches to articulate its importance to their clients and stakeholders.
• Avoid Common Coaching Pitfalls – Understand why common strategies, such as achievement lists or over-psychologizing, often fail and how they can inadvertently harm client progress. Learn about alternative evidence-based approaches.
• Shift Clients Toward a ‘Humble Realist’ Mindset – Discover how to help clients reframe their impostor thoughts, fostering healthier attitudes toward competence, failure, and self-doubt through proven techniques like contextualizing and reframing.

SPEAKER: Carolyn Herfurth is co-founder and managing partner of Impostor Syndrome Institute, the world’s leading source of impostor syndrome solutions.

As a nationally recognized business growth strategist, speaker and award-winning entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience, Carolyn is uniquely qualified to guide the Institute’s mission to address the (avoidable) impact of impostor syndrome on individuals and organizations.

Carolyn understands that change requires more than a pep talk. She brings a unique ability to inspire her audiences to take real action so they finally feel as bright and capable as they really are.

In addition to presenting to audiences from diverse organizations like Dyson, Bimbo Bakeries USA, Everest Reinsurance, Bridge Industrial, Simon Data, Professional Women in Construction, Arquitectos, and more, Carolyn oversees the Institute’s training programs for organizations, coaches, and speakers seeking to be an impostor syndrome-informed resource for their employees and/or clients.

REGISTRATION

ICF Pittsburgh Member/Affiliate – $0
ICF Global Affiliate Chapters – $15
Non-members – $25
Recording only – $25