ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Do you hold yourself back from big opportunities even when the evidence says you're more than capable? If you've ever felt like a fraud waiting to be found out, you're not alone — 34% of leaders report this "doubting imposter" as their number one barrier, and it's quietly keeping careers, businesses, and incomes stuck below their true potential.
In this episode of Optimising Leader Brilliance, bestselling author and leadership coach Estelle Read unpacks the third of the Seven Leadership Saboteurs: the doubting imposter. You'll discover where this relentless self-doubt really comes from, why willpower alone never seems to fix it, and the neuroscience-based technique that clears the pattern at the root — so calm, confident, strategic leadership finally stops feeling like something you have to force.
What You Will Learn
💡 Why the doubting imposter keeps you passing up promotions, big clients, and projects you've already earned — and the hidden childhood patterns that created it.
💡 The neuroscience-based "Havening" technique that resets your nervous system and clears self-doubt at the neurological level, delivering faster, lasting change than traditional methods alone.
💡 Three practical strategies you can start today — a fact-based win log, accepting praise with a simple "thank you," and separating the stories in your head from the facts — to retrain your brain and break through your performance ceiling.
Timestamps:
00:00) Introduction
(02:45) The Doubting Imposter
(04:53) How This Pattern Shows Up in Others
(06:03) The Impact: Building a False Ceiling
(06:54) The Root Cause
(08:19) The Science of Behavior Change
(09:57) The Autopilot Challenge
(11:11) Havening: Modifying Your Autopilot
(13:27) Client Case Study
(14:31) Next Steps & Working With Estelle
📱FOLLOW OR CONTACT:
⭐Estelle Read: https://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee or @EstelleReadCoach
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The Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine Workbook: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress.
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⭐Find Out Which of the 7 Leadership Saboteurs is Holding You Back by Completing the Scorecard:
https://estelle-read.scoreapp.com/
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https://mailchi.mp/dab4b2568b71/free-inner-brilliance-outer-shine-journal
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🧠ESTELLE READ’S COACHING PROGRAMMES:
⬆️The Optimised Leader Programme: NEXT LEVEL:
https://estelleread.com/next-level-leadership-programme/
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https://estelleread.com/the-shine-coaching-programme/
📓BUY ESTELLE READ’S BESTSELLING BOOK:
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🎧LISTEN OR WATCH ON ALTERNATIVE PLATFORMS📺
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⚠️ DICLAIMER
This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific advice. Don’t suffer alone ❤️.
