Do You Experience Imposter Syndrome When Public Speaking?

Why Women Should Ditch the Imposter Syndrome Label

Public speaking is a common fear, and for many women, it’s closely tied to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. Beyond public speaking, it’s also common for women to doubt their abilities, experiencing what we refer to as imposter syndrome. But, what exactly is imposter syndrome? How might it be impacting your public speaking? And why might our continued use of this label be holding women back overall?

What Is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is a term coined in the 1970s by psychologists, referring to the persistent feeling of inadequacy despite a person’s evident success. It can affect all demographics but is particularly pronounced among high-achieving individuals. This often leads people to doubt their abilities and fear being exposed as frauds.

In my experience, public speaking anxiety often appears in highly capable, intelligent, brilliant women. When we unpick what’s going on, there is evidence they can speak well in public—albeit the stories they tell themselves are very different. Despite this evidence, there remains a persistent feeling of inadequacy when it comes to public speaking.

How Does Imposter Syndrome Impact My Ability to Speak in Public?

Self-doubt and imposter feelings can be especially debilitating when public speaking, as the pressure to perform heightens these anxieties even more. You might feel inadequate, convinced you’re not as capable as others. It can seem like everyone around you speaks clearly and coherently without any nerves, while you just can’t seem to do that. This leads to thoughts such as, “Why am I here?”, “What am I doing?”, and “I’m going to be found out as a fraud,”. In turn, this creates a continuous cycle of self-doubt.

But Is It a Syndrome or a Normal Response to Growth?

A syndrome typically refers to a pattern of symptoms or abnormalities that occur together and indicate a specific condition or disorder. Labelling some of the feelings women experience as a “syndrome” might be misleading. This is because, while it describes a common experience, it’s not a diagnosable mental health condition like anxiety or depression. Rather, it’s a natural response to situations where you perceive a gap between your internal expectations and external achievements.

So, if you avoid public speaking but want to improve your skills, it’s completely normal to feel nerves and self-doubt. Just as you would when leaving your comfort zone to learn or develop any other skill. These feelings are part of the growth process. When I accepted that nerves are normal, and there was nothing inherently wrong with me, it was a game-changer! If you want to find out more, read Change How You Think About Nerves When Public Speaking.

A Universal Phenomenon

Imposter syndrome is also a pretty universal phenomenon. Research shows around 70% of people experience imposter feelings at some point in their lives. This is regardless of gender, age, or profession. And my day-to-day work certainly backs this up. This widespread occurrence supports the view that imposter syndrome is more of a normal psychological response to growth and new challenges than a clinical disorder.

Nothing to be Ashamed or Embarrassed About

Framing imposter feelings as a syndrome can inadvertently pathologise a common experience. It implies that women who feel like imposters are somehow abnormal, which can exacerbate feelings of shame and isolation. In reality, imposter syndrome is a testament to ambition and the desire for growth. It’s not a sign of personal deficiency—this point is especially relevant in overcoming the fear of public speaking. Women often struggle alone with their public speaking anxiety because there is a sense of shame or embarrassment. And there really is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. You wouldn’t feel embarrassed or ashamed if you were working on improving your financial management skills!

Does Society Contribute to Imposter Feelings?

Another reason to reconsider the term “syndrome” is that it overlooks societal and cultural factors that contribute to imposter feelings. Women, people of colour, and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds are disproportionately affected by imposter syndrome due to systemic inequalities. These can range from gender bias and stereotypes in the workplace, such as the perception that women are less competent or authoritative than their male counterparts, to lack of representation in leadership, unequal opportunities for advancement, and societal expectations. When we label it a syndrome, we may further undermine the structural barriers that perpetuate these feelings. In turn, this fails to address the root causes of gender inequality in professional settings, and factors that impact people’s confidence to speak-up.

What’s a More Accurate Way to Understand and Address These Feelings?

Instead of pathologising them, we should normalise and reframe them as a natural part of the human experience. Recognising that most people, including successful professionals, grapple with self-doubt at times can help people feel less alone in their struggles. I have met many brilliant, credible and capable women who feel nervous when public speaking. There is certainly nothing unusual or unique about feeling some discomfort when you start to improve your public speaking skills.

What Should I Do When I Experience Imposter Syndrome, Especially Before Public Speaking?

Try answering these questions:

Do you feel excited or challenged when faced with new opportunities or challenges?
Do you feel motivated to learn and grow, even if you’re unsure of your abilities at first?
Do you experience a mix of confidence and nervousness before tackling a new task or project?
Are you open to seeking guidance and feedback to improve your skills and knowledge?
Do you view setbacks and failures as learning opportunities rather than evidence of your incompetence?
Do you believe that with effort and perseverance, you can overcome obstacles and achieve success?
Do you recognise that everyone starts somewhere and feeling unsure or inexperienced is a natural part of the learning process?

Answered yes to most of these questions? Then it’s likely what you are experiencing are the common feelings that arise when we move out of our comfort zones (yes, this is a good thing!!).

Practising self-compassion, challenging negative self-talk, seeking support from mentors and peers, and focusing on progress rather than perfection can help to reframe some of these challenging yet normal feelings as an expected part of the process of growing and learning.

Next time you utter the phrase ‘imposter syndrome,’ take a moment, be kind to yourself, and don’t let these common feelings of self-doubt hold you back—especially when stepping up to speak in public.

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