Imposter Syndrome - Team Workshop

The "Imposter Syndrome Team Workshop" is designed to help team members identify, acknowledge, and manage imposter syndrome (IS). Imposter syndrome is a behavioral health pattern where individuals doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as a "fraud," despite evidence of their competence. This workshop aims to create a supportive environment where participants can share their experiences, learn from each other, and develop strategies to cope with IS.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Introduction and Working Agreement (5 minutes)

   • Begin by explaining the objective of the workshop.

   • Establish a working agreement focusing on openness, empathy, courage, confidentiality, equal voice, and psychological safety.

2. Individual Reflection (10 minutes)

   • Participants grab a lane and add sticky notes with examples of when they've experienced imposter syndrome.

   • Reflect on the following prompts:

     • How did you feel in the moment?

     • What were your thoughts at the time?

     • How did it impact you?

     • How did you overcome or manage it (if you were able to)?

3. Group Sharing and Brainstorming (20 minutes)

   • Break participants into small groups of 3-4 people.

   • Each person shares their examples and reflections.

   • Discuss as a group ideas to overcome/manage some of the examples.

   • Add sticky notes with practical steps, mindsets, self-care practices, or resources that can help.

4. Gallery Walk (10 minutes)

   • One person from each small group shares the key takeaways from their group discussion.

   • Identify common triggers and 3-4 coping strategies that resonated most with the group.

5. Action Planning (2 minutes)

   • Each participant writes down one action they will take based on the workshop discussion.

6. Closing (3 minutes)

   • Thank attendees for their courage and openness.

   • Share additional resources and books.

   • Revisit the team's Working Agreement to incorporate learnings from the workshop.

Who Will Find This Board Useful?

• Teams and Organizations: Looking to foster a supportive environment and address imposter syndrome collectively.

• Agile and Scrum Masters: To use within their Community of Practice (may also use "Imposter Syndrome - Scrum Master Workshop" in Miroverse.

• Individual and Team Coaches: Seeking to provide targeted support for managing imposter syndrome.

• High-Achieving Individuals: Across various fields who may struggle with feelings of inadequacy despite their success.