In our last episode, we met Maria, who was struggling with negative self-talk and imposter syndrome. Jay spoke with author and TEDx speaker Kristel Bauer to explore how Maria—and so many others—can work through these challenges. Now, host Jay Abbasi dives deeper into the realities of imposter syndrome, which studies suggest impacts 70% of people, especially high achievers and leaders.
Jay introduces findings from a 2016 study published in Frontiers in Psychology, which highlights how personalized coaching can reduce imposter syndrome and increase self-efficacy. He also shares how mindfulness meditation loosens the grip of perfectionism, helping individuals become more grounded and resilient.
Drawing from his own experience as a coach and speaker, Jay explains how these two strategies—coaching and mindfulness—offer practical ways to overcome imposter syndrome and manage negative self-talk.
Stay tuned for our next episode, where we’ll meet Erica, a VP of human resources at a manufacturing company who struggled to present her ideas confidently to the executive team. Jay will sit down with Brielle Wohlenhaus, founder of CrossGen Media, to uncover how leaders can develop powerful communication skills and become more confident, articulate speakers.
Timestamps
00:02: Recap of the last episode with Maria
00:12: Insights from Crystal Bauer on overcoming challenges
00:20: Expanding on imposter syndrome
01:15: Host introduction – Jay Abbasi and the podcast "Unstuck"
01:24: Overview of "Unstuck" podcast themes and goals
02:05: Personal experiences of imposter syndrome
02:25: Study on coaching and imposter syndrome (2016)
03:15: Benefits of personalized coaching for imposter syndrome
04:17: Study on mindfulness meditation and imposter syndrome
06:05: Benefits of mindfulness as a practice
06:22: Key takeaways from studies on overcoming imposter syndrome
06:46: Preview of the next episode with Erica and Brielle Wohlenhaus
Notable Quotes
[01:30] “Studies suggest that 70% of people experience [imposter syndrome] at some point in their lives, especially high achievers and professionals in leadership roles.” – Jay Abbasi
[02:50] “Imposter syndrome leads to higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress... It has a negative impact on overall job performance because people feel like they have to prove themselves, which leads to burnout.” – Jay Abbasi
[05:00] “When an individual was coached by a leader who created psychological safety and encouraged self-reflection, it helped them manage through those thoughts of being an imposter.” – Jay Abbasi
[07:10] “You need someone who can hold up a mirror and show you angles you couldn’t see on your own, giving you new perspectives.” – Jay Abbasi
Resources and Link
Jay Abbasi
Website: https://jayabbasi.me/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast
Resources Mentioned
Frontiers in Psychology: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology
