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So soulful entrepreneurs… you’ve read my last two blogs on imposter syndrome.

You’ve got a better idea of what imposter syndrome is, and you can recognize its symptoms 🩺 – including how it’s affecting you now.

Hopefully you’ve tried changing your mindset 🤔, believing in yourself 💪, and being more compassionate toward yourself 💗 (those things I encouraged you to address in my previous blog.

And yet, you can’t see the wood for the trees. 🌲 You’re still stuck in the mud. 🆘

It’s still there.

1️⃣ First things first: the process of overcoming imposter syndrome takes time ⏲️ – something I mentioned a lot in my last post , and something I encourage you to get used to.

2️⃣ Second… there is another important jigsaw piece 🧩 that I’ve yet to share with you.

Which is what I’m going to do now.

But rather than suggesting more ways that you can look differently at the world and your place within it, this time I’ll be sharing with you two powerful social strategies. 👥

Let’s look at these in turn.

1. Building a Supportive Network

Changing your mindset, developing self-compassion, and building your self-confidence are vital in overcoming imposter syndrome. 🥷

A bit of perceptual shifting and self-validation can go a long way.

But if you’re fighting ⚔️ imposter syndrome all on your own, it can be easy to lose that perspective and slide back into bad mental habits. 🤯

It’s a very different story, however, when you get other people involved. 🧑‍🤝‍🧑

And by other people, I don’t just mean any other people.

I mean people you can confide in, who understand you. People who can offer you that much-needed perspective.

This could be your family, or your close friends. These people are often the first I go to when I need sympathy or encouragement.

But as an entrepreneur, sometimes you need someone who can empathize with your situation. Who can understand your situation… as a fellow entrepreneur! 🙋‍♀️

And so, aside from your nearest and dearest, the first thing I encourage you to do when imposter syndrome strikes is to speak to other entrepreneurs who’re on the same journey as you.

People who’ve trodden a similar path to you 🛣️, and who’re going through the same thing. Who can offer you a different perspective on a shared challenge.

Believe me – this makes things a lot more manageable.

How can I go about this Lisa?

Here are some things that have really helped my clients (and me!) in the past:

• Join an entrepreneurial community 👥 – this could be offline (co-working spaces, coffee mornings for start-ups) or online (social media groups, forums). Both are a great way of establishing regular contact with like-minded entrepreneurs.
• Attend peer-to-peer networking events for entrepreneurs 🤝 – many of the peers attending these events will probably also be dealing with imposter syndrome.
• Participate in entrepreneurial workshops or webinars – these can equip you with practical tools ⛏️for managing imposter syndrome, while also bringing you into touch with other entrepreneurs facing the same difficulties.
• Use professional networking sites 🔗 – sites like LinkedIn can be a great way of connecting with other entrepreneurs who share similar experiences or interests (to get you started, feel free to connect with me here! )
• Listen to entrepreneurship-focused podcasts 👂 – hearing from entrepreneurs who have trodden down a similar path to you can be a great way of acquiring new coping strategies and building up your motivation and resilience.
• Share your experience publicly 🗣️ – writing a blog, creating a video, or giving a talk can really help you express yourself while also helping others facing the same challenges (feel free to use  my Instagram as a source of inspiration here).
• Volunteer ⛑️ – volunteering for an entrepreneurial group can be a highly effective way of helping others who are dealing with imposter syndrome, as well as an excellent form of self-healing. It’s also great for developing new connections, as well as your résumé. If this interests you, reach out to me here for more ideas!

These strategies are great for most anyone with imposter syndrome who’s running their own business – and I have a resource to help you!

2. Find a Coach or Mentor

Having someone you can talk with who’s ‘been there, done that’ is a great way of dealing with imposter syndrome.

However, if yours is a serious case of imposter syndrome ⚠️, you may want to consider a coach or mentor – that is, a professional who has experience dealing with imposter syndrome, and who can help guide you through your particular maze.

Coaches – and especially mindset coaches (*raises own hand* 🙋‍♀️) – not only meet you where you are on your journey with imposter syndrome, but the chances are they’ve also been on the very same journey themselves (*raises own hand again* 🙋‍♀️).

Core to the coach’s role is active listening. 👂

That means empathy, hearing you. Standing in your truth with you, side by side 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 – a vital step 👣 in terms of making sure that you – we – are on the same page before moving any further.

The next part is helping you to reconcile that truth with your goals 🥅 – something that a lot of entrepreneurs find difficult, especially if they haven’t developed a clearly defined set of SMART objectives 🎯 (that’s an acronym FYI, as well as an adjective 😜).

Then comes helping you establish what your available options 🔢 are in your situation, followed by how best to move forward from your present reality toward your clearly defined goals…

…plus a whole load more stuff – resources, check-ins, short-term actions plans… there’s a lot that goes into it.

But that’s what I’m saying. Yes, it’s an undertaking, a commitment – but it’s also a major self-investment. 💹

Short of a taking some wellbeing wonder pill 💊, it is by far the most effective way to help you: 

1. Come to terms with what you’re going through
2. Overcome what’s holding you back 😓, psychologically and professionally, and…
3. Move concretely toward your goals and your ideal future self 😃

By working with a coach, you’ll also encounter a range of sustainable tools 🔨 that will keep you on your ideal-self straight-and-narrow – whether it’s imposter syndrome you’re facing, a combination of imposter syndrome and other challenges, or something altogether different.

And because coaching is so personalized, it’s a strong solution for everyone, including for non-native English-speaking entrepreneurs.

(It might be worth mentioning at this point that besides being a business and mindset coach, I also have an extensive background working as a second-language teacher. Just saying… 😉)

Whatever your situation – imposter syndrome or otherwise – if you’re ready to get on top of what it is that’s holding you back, and to conquer your goals… here is how I can help. 🙋‍♀️

And remember, if you are an entrepreneur (native or non-native English speaker) and you’re living with imposter syndrome… I’ve got something just for you! 🫵 Check it out

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