Eight years ago, I wrote about a workshop that changed how I saw myself. The topic was Imposter Syndrome, a feeling I hadn’t consciously named but had deeply internalized. The formal definition resonated with me then, and it’s worth revisiting:

Imposter Syndrome is described as a feeling of “phoniness in people who believe that they are not intelligent, capable or creative despite evidence of high achievement”. While these people “are highly motivated to achieve”, they also live in fear of being ‘found out’ or exposed as frauds.

Back then, during a Mozilla All Hands event in 2017, I attended a workshop that felt like a light turning on in a dark room. I realized that my long-standing reluctance to ask questions in public wasn’t just shyness; it was a deep-seated fear of being exposed as a fraud.

I can still feel the anxiety I described in that post: framing a question in my mind, only to convince myself it was the “most stupid question to be asked.” I’d stay silent, only to hear someone else ask the very same thing and receive praise for their insight. It was a frustrating, self-defeating cycle. This workshop made me realize this behavior was the imposter in me, wasting my time over-preparing and trying to find every answer myself, just to avoid a moment of public vulnerability.

The workshop gave me my first tools: share your failures, document your wins, and tell your story. I even made a plan with my mentor, Stephanie, to practice asking questions in a safe environment before taking them to the wider team. It was my first, deliberate step.

Since then, I have been an advocate on this topic and mentored various under-represented folks on how to beat imposter syndrome and how to get comfortable asking questions.

Looking back, that initial plan was crucial. But overcoming the feeling of being an imposter isn’t a one-time fix. It’s an ongoing, deliberate practice. This is where a mindset I’ve seen articulated recently truly clicks with my journey. I saw this snippet on LinkedIn, and it perfectly captures the philosophy I’ve had to adopt:

“Too often, we put pressure on ourselves to have everything figured out before we get started.”

This is the very essence of imposter syndrome. We want the perfect question, the perfect plan, the perfect execution because we believe perfection is our only shield against being “found out.” But the truth is, the path forward is never perfect. The initial assumptions are often wrong, and as the post wisely states, “there are many things we don’t even know that we don’t know.”

The real antidote to the fear of being a fraud is embracing action over perfection. The journey from feeling like an imposter to feeling confident in my contributions has mirrored the simple, powerful approach described in that post:

1. Define the Real Problem

My problem wasn’t that I didn’t have good questions. The problem was a fear of judgment. Clearly articulating that challenge, “I am afraid of looking foolish” was the first step. It set my intention: to build confidence through practice, not to magically know all the answers.

2. Make a Flexible, Supportive Plan

My plan with my mentor was a perfect example of this. It wasn’t a rigid script; it was a roadmap for building courage. I’d test a question with her first, get a boost of confidence, and then ask it in the larger meeting. It was a small, manageable first step that moved me from inaction to action. The plan wasn’t to be perfect; the plan was to start.

3. Revisit and Adjust

That initial strategy evolved. Soon, I didn’t need to check in on every question. I started trusting my instincts more. This iterative process of trying, learning, and adjusting is what builds resilience. Every time I asked a question and the world didn’t end, I was gathering evidence against the imposter’s narrative. Each small step, each imperfect action, proved that I belonged in the room.

It all boils down to a simple, powerful idea: progress over perfection.

When you accept that the journey will be messy, you give yourself permission to learn and grow. The techniques I learned in that workshop like taking a compliment with a simple “thank you” or keeping a log of positive feedback are ways of documenting that progress. They are tangible proof points to counter the feeling of being a fraud.

Overcoming imposter syndrome isn’t about finally “arriving” at a place of flawless confidence. It’s about building a deliberate practice of taking the next step, trusting that you will learn as you go, and understanding that being a work-in-progress isn’t a weakness, it’s the entire point.

It’s about having the courage to begin.