Every New Manager Feels Like a Fraud - Here’s How to Stop It Taking Over
You’ve done it - got that promotion to Manager. Well done you!
That new title, those new expectations… and then that little voice in the back of your head:
“They’re going to find out I don’t know what I’m doing.”
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Most people experience imposter syndrome at some point in their careers - especially when stepping up for the first time.
Imposter syndrome is the feeling that you don’t deserve your role and that, sooner or later, you’ll be “found out” - even when there’s clear evidence you’re capable.
In fact, studies suggest around 70% of professionals will experience it at some stage (Harvard Business Review, 2021).
Why Imposter Syndrome Happens for New Managers
Moving into leadership can feel like you’ve been handed a role you haven’t quite earned yet. One minute you’re confident in your old job - the next, you’re in meetings with senior people, making decisions, managing others. Suddenly, every mistake feels visible.
It’s easy to assume everyone else has it together. The truth? Many of them feel exactly the same way.
What You Can Try Today
A colleague of mine once said the biggest help wasn’t a course or a book - it was a person. Someone they could be honest with, daily if needed, who’d remind them that doubt doesn’t mean failure… it means growth.
Here are a few other simple things you can try right now:
- Write down three things you achieved today.
Big or small - maybe you handled a tricky conversation, or finished something you’d been putting off. Seeing progress in black and white helps quieten that “I’m not doing enough” voice. - Name your inner critic.
Literally give it a name - “Doubtful Dave”, “Critical Claire”, whatever fits. When that voice pipes up, talk back to it: “Thanks for your input, Annoying Andrew… but I’ve got this.” It sounds silly, but it separates you from the thought. - Ask for feedback before you spiral.
When you’re uncertain about how something went, check - don’t assume. Most people rate our work far higher than we do ourselves. - Schedule self-check breaks.
Take two minutes mid-afternoon to pause and notice your posture, breathing, and self-talk. Are you tense? Holding your breath? Talking harshly to yourself? Reset physically first - the mindset often follows. - Keep a “kindness note.”
Write one encouraging thing to yourself each day. Even a line like “I handled that meeting calmly” builds emotional balance over time.
Pause for a moment:
If someone you worked with told you they felt like a fraud, what would you say to them?
Now say it to yourself.
Longer-Term Confidence Builders
Imposter syndrome doesn’t disappear overnight - but it does get quieter when you build resilience, emotional awareness, and self-trust.
That’s why our development sessions focus on these very areas:
- Personal Resilience – techniques to manage emotions under stress and make balanced decisions.
- Personal Impact – tools for confident communication and positive self-presentation.
- Emotional Intelligence – understanding triggers, managing reactions, and maintaining focus.
Each workshop includes practical strategies you can apply the very next day - from assertiveness techniques to daily wellbeing plans.
If you’re struggling with self-doubt right now, remember: feeling like an imposter isn’t proof you don’t belong.
It’s proof that you care.
So, take one action today - write that list, have that conversation, or simply notice the thought and carry on anyway.
Confidence comes from doing, not from waiting to feel ready.
Explore related courses:
👉 Personal Resilience
👉 Personal Impact
👉 Emotional Intelligence
🎓 View all Corporate Training Courses
About the Author
Emma-Jane Haigh
Leadership and People Development Specialist, Executive Coach, and Facilitator. Emma-Jane designs and delivers training that helps managers and teams strengthen communication, build resilience, and lead with confidence. At Underscore, she runs leadership, management, and project management programmes focused on practical skills and real workplace impact.
