The feeling of imposter syndrome isn't a sign of being weak; rather, it indicates you're precisely in the right place. This is the unexpected perspective shared by Scott Galloway, a marketing professor at NYU and a serial entrepreneur who has founded and sold multiple companies for millions of dollars. During a recent installment of his podcast, The Prof G Pod, Galloway redefined a prevalent source of professional worry as proof of drive, not a lack of skill.
TL;DR
- Scott Galloway views imposter syndrome as a positive sign of pushing boundaries.
- Feeling out of place indicates growth, not a lack of skill or competence.
- Galloway advises diligent preparation and listening over speaking initially.
- Discomfort in new environments suggests you are in the right place for development.
Galloway's perspective on imposter syndrome diverges from the common belief that it's something one must conquer.
“Imposter syndrome is something we all have,” he said. “I fooled them getting into UCLA. I fooled them getting a job at Morgan Stanley. I fooled them getting into graduate school. That’s just natural. And you should have a little bit of imposter syndrome because if you’re not in rooms where you sort of don’t deserve to be in, you’re not trying that hard.”
Dan from New York, a listener who only gave his name, sent Galloway a message detailing what he termed “class-based imposter syndrome”—the persistent feeling of not possessing the implicit cultural knowledge shared by his more affluent and educated colleagues in leadership positions. Galloway suggested that reframing one's view of imposter syndrome can be particularly beneficial for individuals from working-class origins as they adapt to corporate settings.
“The last thing you want to do is be overqualified, or the most qualified person in the room,” Galloway said. “I always joke that if I’m in a room, I need to be the oldest and least best-looking or ugliest person in any room I want to be in. You also want to be a little bit intimidated.” His point: Discomfort indicates growth, not failure.
Galloway suggests that imposter syndrome doesn't have to be comfortable, but feeling out of place in a significant setting often indicates you belong. The executives and senior managers present didn't hire you by chance, he stated. “What you generally find out is that there’s a reason you’re there,”
Galloway drew a comparison to athletic training, citing Muhammad Ali’s philosophy that fights are won outside the ring.
“For the first six or 12 months until you’re really confident about what you’re saying in these meetings,” he said, “the way you show up is by training like crazy.” That “training” he’s referring to means doing your work in a diligent manner, demonstrating your ability to be a team player, advocating for your coworkers and colleagues, and being careful to observe the room’s dynamics before speaking.
Galloway also cautioned against a frequent error made by less experienced professionals in unfamiliar environments: believing they possess superior intellect while undervaluing colleagues.
“I’d make these big sweeping statements and insights and then realize like, okay, that’s just not accurate, or they already thought of this,” he acknowledged.
Galloway suggests that to combat imposter syndrome, one should prioritize listening over speaking, particularly during the initial stages of a new position. It's advisable to prepare thoroughly before meetings, carefully consider the timing of your contributions, and reflect before speaking. Ask yourself if your input will genuinely be beneficial or if you're merely aiming to appear intelligent.
You can watch Galloway’s entire episode on imposter syndrome below.
For this story, Coins2Day generative AI assisted in creating the first draft, which an editor then reviewed for accuracy prior to publication.