Imposter Syndrome: Taking Your Seat at the Table

Episode Description

Host: Julie Williams MSc — Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires
Mini-Series: Lighting Fires Toolbox — Conversations on Common Coaching Themes

Episode Overview

In this special Lighting Fires mini-episode, supported by Henley Business School, Julie explores one of the most common topics that comes up in coaching conversations: imposter syndrome, or more accurately, imposter phenomenon. Drawing on research from Clance and Imes in the 1970s, Julie unpacks why even the most capable, high-achieving people often struggle to internalise their success and feel they belong.

Featuring powerful reflections from previous guests Lorraine Briffitt and Mark Schmull, this episode explores what imposter syndrome feels like in real life, how it shows up in leadership, and the practical steps you can take to challenge the inner critic and step confidently into the rooms you deserve to be in.

This honest and encouraging episode is for anyone who has ever worried about not being "good enough," questioned whether they deserve an opportunity, or wondered when they're going to be "found out."

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Why imposter syndrome happens, and why it's not a personal flaw
• How sharing these thoughts out loud can dissolve their power
• The importance of trusted spaces and supportive networks
• Techniques to examine and challenge unhelpful thinking patterns
• Why belonging is not about being liked, but about owning your place
• Practical tools to build confidence through action and reflection

Julie's Top Coaching Takeaways

Say it out loud
Speaking your fears in a safe space helps you see them more clearly, and often reveals how irrational they really are.

Look for evidence
Notice where you may be deleting information or generalising unfairly. What facts prove you do deserve to be here?

Use NLP tools
Explore deletions, distortions and generalisations to examine how your internal story may differ from objective reality.

Write down your achievements
Small wins and large milestones build confidence — but only if you acknowledge them.

Confidence comes from doing
You don't wait until you feel ready. You take action, even with discomfort, and confidence grows afterwards.

You belong if you're in the room
As Shonda Rhimes says: If you're there, you've earned it. Accept it and get on with it.

Resources Mentioned

• Research by Clance & Imes (1978) on Imposter Phenomenon
• Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP): Deletions, Distortions & Generisations Framework

Henley Business School

Interested in a career in coaching? Find out about the Professional
Certificate in Executive Coaching at Henley Business School here.

Be sure to mention the Lighting Fires Podcast if you do contact Henley Business School.

Connect with Julie

Website: lightingfires.co.uk
Email: julie@lightingfires.co.uk
LinkedIn: Julie Williams MSc

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a five star rating and review, it helps more listeners find these real-world leadership tools and stories.

Host: Julie Williams, MSc - Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires

Guest: Lucy Guest- Social Media Strategist and Brand Communication Specialist.

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Lighting Fires Podcast, supported by Henley Business School, Julie sits down with Social Media Strategist and Brand Communication Specialist, Lucy Guest to explore the transformational coaching journey they experienced together. Their conversation dives into what it really means to lead with confidence and authenticity, make brave decisions even when they may be unpopular, and navigate complex power dynamics within organisations.

Along the way, they take some wonderfully unexpected detours, from sharks and caterpillars to medieval languages, Shakespeare, and Dungeons & Dragons, using metaphor and creativity to illuminate the realities of modern leadership. Lucy shares the practical exercises and coaching techniques that helped her shift perspective, build self-belief, and step into an authentic leadership style that aligns with her values.

This is a colourful, honest, and insightful conversation about growth, identity, and becoming the leader you were meant to be.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• How to build confidence as a leader when stepping into your first significant management role

• Why striving to be liked can limit your leadership potential

• Tools for navigating power dynamics and organisational politics without losing your values

• How creative coaching techniques can unlock new perspectives and clarity

• Ways to balance supporting your team while allowing them the space to learn through mistakes

• Why understanding individual communication styles helps create healthier team dynamics

• The value of reframing failure as part of leadership growth

Julie's Top Coaching Takeaways

Respond, don't react
Creating space to pause helps you choose a considered response instead of an emotional reaction.

Detach from the need to be liked
Leadership isn't a popularity contest. Stay connected to your purpose and the outcome you want to create, even if not everyone approves.

Zoom out to gain perspective
Techniques such as constellations help you step outside your own viewpoint and understand what different stakeholders need.

Celebrate authenticity
Confidence grows when you stop shrinking yourself to fit expectations and instead lead in a way that feels genuinely true to you.

Learn from mistakes- they're essential
Leaders aren't defined by avoiding mistakes, but by how they reflect, learn and adapt because of them.

Resources Mentioned

• Swimming with Sharks allegory / essay - a metaphor for navigating organisational politics and power dynamics

• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) - understanding personality and communication preferences

• Constellations coaching method - perspective-shifting systemic mapping technique (inspired by the work of John Whittington)

• Henley Business School - Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching

Henley Business School

Interested in a career in coaching? Find out about the Professional
Certificate in Executive Coaching at Henley Business School here.

Be sure to mention the Lighting Fires Podcast if you do contact Henley Business School.

Connect with Julie

Website: www.lightingfires.co.uk
Email: julie@lightingfires.co.uk
LinkedIn: Julie Williams MSc

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating and review- it helps more people find these real-world leadership stories and coaching insights.

Host: Julie Williams, MSc - Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires

Guest: Ian Guppy - Creative Director, Feelgood Creative, a branding and website design agency

In the opening episode of Series 2 of The Lighting Fires Podcast, supported by Henley Business School, Julie reconnects with long-time friend, client, and creative collaborator Ian Guppy. As the Creative Director of Feelgood Creative, Ian has led the agency through exciting growth and transformation. At a pivotal point in that journey, he turned to Julie for coaching support to clarify his vision and set a new strategic direction.

Together, they explore how coaching helped Ian shift from "future box" thinking to taking meaningful action in the present. Ian opens up about the challenges of leading a creative business, building a team, and recognising the true value of his own expertise.

They also dive into the powerful impact of self-awareness tools like Belbin Team Roles and Myers-Briggs, which helped Ian better understand not only his own working style, but also how to bring out the best in others.

This episode is full of practical insights for founders, creatives, and solo entrepreneurs- especially around mindset, team dynamics, and evolving your business model to align with your strengths.

• Why having a clear business vision is essential, and how to start shaping one
  
  

• How coaching helped Ian stop procrastinating and take action in the now
  
  

• The benefits of using tools like Belbin and MBTI to understand yourself and your team
  
  

• Why charging for creative work is hard, and how Ian learned to confidently price his value
  
  

• How shifting his business model enabled more collaborative, energising work
  
  

• Set a Vision
  Define where you're going- clarity gives you momentum.

• Use Your Body to Plan
  Try physical or kinetic exercises: step into your "future self" and explore what you see, hear, and feel.

• Understand Your Team
  Tools like MBTI and Belbin are great, but even informal reflection helps. What do your team members enjoy? What are they good at? How do they prefer to communicate?

• Build a Supportive Network
  Especially for solo founders: surround yourself with people whose skills complement yours. Think of it as your 'virtual team.'

• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)- A framework for understanding communication and leadership preferences
  
  

• Belbin Team Roles- A tool to identify behavioural strengths and team dynamics
  
  

Interested in a career in coaching? Find out about the Professional
Certificate in Executive Coaching at Henley Business School here.

Be sure to mention the Lighting Fires Podcast if you do contact Henley Business School.

Website: www.lightingfires.co.uk
Email: julie@lightingfires.co.uk
LinkedIn: Julie Williams MSc

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a 5 star rating and review- it helps more people find these real-world leadership stories and coaching insights.