Stop an Imposter Spiral in 60 Seconds
Senior leaders don’t lose authority because they lack capability — they lose it because their presence fractures under pressure.
What’s Actually Happening in an Imposter Spiral
This is not a confidence problem.
This is a nervous system misread that happens in high-stakes moments:
Pressure feels like exposure
Silence feels like rejection
Scrutiny feels like doubt
Your attention turns inward at the exact moment it must stay outward.
And the room feels it.
The 60-Second Reset
When you feel the spiral begin:
Plant — feet grounded, body still
Stop adding — no justifying, no explaining
Regulate — take a beat before speaking
Return attention to the room — not your thoughts
Anchor — to the decision, the silence, or the question
This interrupts the inward turn that leaks authority.
Where This Shows Up for Senior Leaders
You’ll recognize this pattern in moments like:
When your recommendation suddenly carries real stakes
When the room goes silent after you present
When a senior leader challenges your thinking
When open conflict appears in a meeting
During promotion cycles or high-visibility periods
These are not mindset problems.
These are presence-under-pressure moments.
Why This Matters
Careers are not determined in the calm weeks.
They are determined in make-or-break moments where your authority must hold under scrutiny.
This is one of the most common leaks I diagnose in senior leaders.
If This Felt Familiar
This exact pattern is what I pressure-test with leaders within a Leadership Presence Audit.
You can learn more about that here: