This blog marks the second instalment in our Leadership Series with Catherine Harris from Project ROAR . If you haven’t already, we recommend starting with our first blog, How to Quiet Self-Doubt in Your Career, which explores practical ways to build confidence and navigate uncertainty at work. Over the coming weeks, we’ll continue sharing a new blog each week in the lead-up to Catherine’s upcoming masterclass, The Art of Delegation. This session will focus on how to delegate with clarity and confidence-by setting clear outcomes, defining ownership, and empowering your team to take responsibility. Catherine will expand on these ideas in her webinar on 29 April, sharing practical, actionable insights to help leaders delegate more effectively and build high-performing teams. ____________________________________________________ At different points in your career, the context changes. You might be between roles. Exploring options quietly while still employed. Or positioning yourself for a step up. But the underlying truth stays the same - your next opportunity often comes from how clearly you articulate your value, who knows your story, and how intentionally you manage your next move, not just what’s written on your resume. Applying for roles is part of the process. It’s rarely the whole strategy. The people who gain momentum faster tend to approach their careers with intention…not urgency, but direction. Below are three practical strategies that consistently help people feel clearer, more connected, and more in control of what comes next. 1. Use Your Network With Purpose - Your network isn’t a safety net, it’s a working asset. Not in a transactional way, but in a relational one. Strong networks create visibility, context, and advocacy. They help people understand where you’re headed, not just where you’ve been. A few grounding principles: a) Start where you are - If you’re employed, strengthen internal relationships. Talk with leaders, peers, and teams adjacent to your own. If you’re exploring externally, reconnect with former colleagues, clients, and industry contacts. b) Be clear about what you’re exploring - Clarity helps others help you. “I’m exploring Clinical Services Manager roles in Sydney” is easier to respond to than “I’m open to something new.” c) Stay visible in low-effort ways - Sharing an article, congratulating someone on a role change, or making an introduction keeps you present without needing an ask. Practical prompt: This week, reconnect with three people you haven’t spoken to in a while. Share a brief update and ask what they’re working on. 2. Get Clear on Your Positioning - If someone asked you to describe what you do, and where you’re heading, could you do it simply and confidently? A positioning statement isn’t about impressing. It’s about helping others quickly understand your value. Think of it as the bridge between your experience and your next step. A useful structure: · Current: What you’re currently doing (or most recently did) · Past: The experience and strengths you bring · Future: The kind of opportunity you’re moving toward When this is clear, conversations become easier. Introductions become more relevant. And opportunities feel less accidental. Practical prompt: Write a short positioning statement and practise saying it out loud. Use it in conversations, interviews, and internal discussions about growth. 3. Manage Your Career Like a Project - Careers benefit from the same thinking we apply to meaningful work. Clear goals. Defined actions. Regular check-ins. Instead of holding everything in your head, treat your next move as a project with structure. Start here: a) Clarify the goal - Are you aiming for progression where you are, a move to a new organisation, or a broader shift? b) Break it into actions - Resume updates. Conversations. Skill development. Interview preparation. c) Create accountability - Set regular time to review progress - with yourself, a mentor, or someone you trust. d) Adjust as needed - If something isn’t working, refine the approach rather than questioning your capability. Practical prompt: Create a simple 30-day plan with a small number of weekly actions. Progress builds confidence when it’s visible.  A final thought Careers rarely move in straight lines. Momentum comes from clarity, not pressure. When you approach your career with intention, rather than waiting for the right moment, opportunities tend to surface more naturally. Your experience already has value. Managing it thoughtfully is how others come to see it. And that’s often where the shift begins.

This blog marks the first in our Leadership Series with Catherine Harris from ROAR . Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing a new blog each week in the lead-up to Catherine’s upcoming masterclass, The Art of Delegation - learning how to delegate with clarity and confidence by setting clear outcomes, defining ownership, and empowering your team to take responsibility. Catherine will dive deeper into these ideas in her upcoming webinar on 29 April , where she’ll share actionable insights to help leaders delegate more effectively and create high-performing teams. ____________________________________________________ At some point in many careers, a strange disconnect shows up. On paper, everything looks fine. You’re capable. Experienced. Trusted. And yet internally, there’s a quiet voice saying: “I don’t really belong here. What if they realise I’m not as good as they think?” That experience has a name, imposter syndrome , and it’s far more common than most people realise. What is imposter syndrome? Imposter syndrome is a pattern of self-doubt where people question their competence or feel like a fraud, despite clear evidence of their skills and achievements. People experiencing imposter syndrome often: Attribute success to luck or timing Minimise their own accomplishments Worry about being “found out” Hold themselves to impossibly high standards Research suggests that up to 70% of professionals experience imposter syndrome at some point in their careers. So, if you’ve ever felt this way, you’re not alone. How imposter syndrome shows up at work ? Imposter syndrome doesn’t always look dramatic. Often, it’s subtle. It can sound like: “I’m not ready yet.” “Other people probably know more than I do.” “I’ll speak up once I’m more confident.” Common signs include: Downplaying achievements Avoiding visibility or stretch opportunities Overworking to “prove” worth Hesitating to apply for roles or promotions Fear of making mistakes or asking questions Over time, this can quietly limit growth. Not because of lack of ability, but because confidence gets caught in the background. Why this matters for your career From a hiring perspective, imposter syndrome often shows up as under-representation, not under-performance. Recruiters and hiring managers don’t see your internal doubts. They see what you articulate. When capable candidates minimise their experience or hesitate to step forward, the market can’t fully see their value. That’s why addressing imposter syndrome isn’t about ego, it’s about alignment between what you’re capable of and how you show up.  Practical strategies to manage imposter syndrome Imposter syndrome doesn’t disappear overnight, but it can be managed. Here are practical, realistic ways to reduce its hold: 1. Separate feelings from facts - Feelings are persuasive, but they aren’t always accurate. When self-doubt creeps in, ask: “What evidence actually supports this thought?” Instead of: “I’m not qualified for this role.” Try writing down: What experience do I have that relates directly to this role? What have others trusted me with before? What feedback have I received in the past 12 months? Practical tip: When doubt shows up, physically write the thought down and then list three pieces of evidence that challenge it. Seeing it on paper reduces its intensity. 2. Normalise the experience - Imposter syndrome thrives in silence. Most professionals you respect have experienced it. They just don’t advertise it. Practical tip: Ask a trusted colleague or mentor: “Have you ever doubted yourself stepping into a bigger role?” You’ll likely hear a story that reframes your own experience. 3. Reframe mistakes as data - Mistakes are often interpreted as proof of incompetence. In reality, they are feedback loops. Instead of: “I shouldn’t have made that mistake.” Ask: What specifically went wrong? What will I do differently next time? What did this teach me? Practical tip: After any setback, write a short debrief using these three questions. This turns emotion into learning. 4. Prepare when you need confidence - Preparation is not weakness. It’s leverage. If you’re nervous about a meeting, an interview, presenting, or applying for a promotion. Preparation reduces uncertainty. Practical tip: Before a high-stakes moment, write down three key points you want to communicate and one example to support each. Confidence often follows clarity. 5. Ask for perspective - Self-assessment is rarely neutral. Trusted colleagues, mentors or recruiters often see strengths you overlook. Instead of asking: “Do you think I’m good enough?” Ask: “What do you see as my strongest capability?” or “Where do you think I underestimate myself?” Practical tip: Collect this feedback and add it to your “Evidence” list. It becomes external validation when your internal narrative is unreliable. A final thought Imposter syndrome doesn’t mean you’re incapable. It often means you care, you’re stretching, and you’re growing. From a recruitment perspective, the candidates who doubt themselves slightly are often the ones who prepare thoroughly and take responsibility seriously. Your experience matters. Your achievements are real. And you don’t need to eliminate self-doubt to move forward, you just need tools to keep it in proportion.