What If Everyone in That Room Feels Like an Imposter Too?

The Question That Changed My Perspective

I was sitting on a work call, completely paralyzed by imposter syndrome. I felt like everyone else belonged there and I didn't. I was convinced they all saw me as the inexperienced kid who somehow snuck into the room.

Then a thought occurred to me that completely shifted my perspective: Is everybody experiencing imposter syndrome?

The Possibility I Never Considered

What if those confident-seeming people in their 40s were sitting there thinking the exact same things I was thinking?

Does everybody wonder if what they say will be valuable?

Maybe they were looking at me wondering: "How did this kid get here? Why is he here at such a young age? Is he going to add something to the conversation and finally show me why he's here?"

But maybe they were also wondering if their own contributions were worthwhile.

The Realization That Set Me Free

Here's what helped me finally speak up: I got over it by believing that everybody else is kind of experiencing it too.

This thought was incredibly liberating. If everyone in that room was dealing with their own version of "Do I belong here?" then I wasn't some unique imposter who didn't deserve to be there.

Why This Perspective Works

When you realize that imposter syndrome might be universal, several things happen:

You feel less isolated: You're not the only one questioning whether you belong

You gain perspective: If experienced professionals also doubt themselves sometimes, your doubts are normal

You find courage: If they can speak up despite their doubts, so can you

You stop comparing: Instead of assuming they're more confident, you recognize they're human too

The Universal Experience

What I came to believe is this: Everybody goes through what I went through at some point. A debilitating yet important moment of imposter syndrome when you think you don't belong, when you think you're less valuable than somebody else.

This isn't just something that happens to young, inexperienced people. It's something that happens to humans.

How This Helped Me Act

Once I believed that everyone else might be experiencing similar doubts, I was able to reframe the situation:

Instead of: "I'm the only one here who doesn't belong" I thought: "We're all here trying to add value, despite our doubts"

Instead of: "They're all more confident than me" I thought: "They're probably just better at hiding their uncertainty"

The Shift in Energy

When I stopped thinking I was the only one with doubts, the entire dynamic of the room changed in my mind. We weren't a group of confident experts plus one imposter. We were a group of people all trying to contribute value while managing our own insecurities.

This shift made it so much easier to finally speak up and share what I thought would be valuable.

Why This Matters Beyond One Call

Understanding that imposter syndrome is likely universal helps in all professional situations:

In meetings: Everyone's probably hoping their contribution adds value

In interviews: The interviewers might be just as nervous about asking good questions

In networking: Other people are likely just as worried about making a good impression

In presentations: The audience probably understands the nervousness you're feeling

The Comfort in Shared Experience

There's something deeply comforting about realizing that your struggles aren't unique to you. That feeling of "I don't belong here" isn't evidence that you actually don't belong - it's evidence that you're human.

Even people who seem supremely confident have moments where they wonder if they're good enough, if they belong, if what they're about to say will add value.

The Bottom Line

The next time you're feeling like an imposter, remember: you're probably not the only one in that room questioning whether you belong.

Everyone's fighting their own internal battle about whether they're good enough. The difference between those who contribute and those who stay silent often isn't confidence - it's the willingness to act despite the doubt.

This insight comes from a larger conversation about overcoming imposter syndrome and finding your voice. Want to hear the full story? Listen to this complete episode on the Guyset podcast, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.