Tackling the Confidence Gremlins: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in School Leadership

Host Liz Worthen welcomes Nickii Messer to discuss imposter syndrome, how it shows up in school roles, and practical ways to challenge the ‘confidence gremlins’.

Nickii shares how self-doubt nearly stopped her becoming chair of governors for two schools, and explores how imposter thoughts link to the ‘Ps’ of perfectionism, procrastination, perspective and panic. 

They talk about:

• Challenging the gremlin voice through reflective practice
• Celebrating achievements and accepting ‘good enough’ where appropriate
• Reframing the ‘comfort-stretch-panic’ model as ‘comfort-gremlin-magic’
• Creating safe leadership cultures where asking for help is normal
• Being 10% braver.

“You can let the brakes help you slow down to check for hazards, but don't let them stop you.”

Nickii Messer of All the Geese is a school business management and leadership specialist, providing training, development and mentoring expertise. She’s also chair of governors of two schools.   

Liz Worthen’s career in education spans teaching, training, commissioning and programme development. Creating Value in Schools is all about sustainable working: taking care of people, planet and resources to secure better outcomes for children and communities.

Links and resources

• Sign up for the Creating Value in Schools newsletter: http://eepurl.com/i2429o
• Karl Rohnke’s Comfort, Stretch, Panic model: https://www.crowe-associates.co.uk/coaching-tools/comfort-stretch-panic-coaching-tool/
• Nickii Messer on honest conversations: https://createvalueschools.com/blog/call-them-honest-conversations-to-empower-understand-and-resolve/
• Ready to grow? Professional development suggestions: https://createvalueschools.com/need-to-know/professional-development-opportunities-for-sbms/
• Find recommended reads in the Creating Value in Schools bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/createvalueschools

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup

01:08 Nickii’s Imposter Story

03:51 What Is Imposter Syndrome

06:42 Mentoring and Common Patterns

10:18 Solo Strategies and Perspective

12:15 Comfort Stretch Panic Model

13:46 Perfectionism and High Achievers

16:35 Leading Through Self Doubt

18:46 Affirmations and Culture Shifts

20:53 Failure Lessons and Social Comparison

23:01 Books and Being 10% Braver

27:39 Final Takeaways and Goodbye