Here are 6 tips:Recognize the thoughts and feelings as separate from facts. When you catch yourself thinking "I don't belong here" or "I'm going to be found out," pause and remind yourself that these are anxious thoughts, not objective truths. Just because you feel like a fraud doesn't mean you actually are one.Keep a record of your accomplishments. Write down positive feedback, successful projects, and skills you've developed. When imposter syndrome hits, review this evidence of your competence. It's hard to argue with concrete examples of your contributions and growth.Reframe "failure" as learning. Imposters fear being exposed through mistakes, but everyone makes them. Instead of seeing errors as proof you don't belong, view them as normal parts of growth. The most successful people fail regularly—they just learn from it and keep going.Talk to others about it. You'll often discover that people you admire have felt exactly the same way. Sharing these feelings reduces their power and helps you realize how common they are, especially among high achievers who set demanding standards for themselves.Focus on contribution over perfection. Instead of trying to prove you deserve to be somewhere, concentrate on how you can help or add value. When you're genuinely focused on contributing to your team or field, there's less mental energy available for self-doubt and comparison.Reframe your internal dialogue. Instead of "I don't know what I'm doing," try "I'm learning as I go." Replace "I got lucky" with "I was prepared when opportunity came." This shift from fixed self-criticism to growth-oriented thinking can reduce the power of imposter thoughts. Some resources for you:Project more confidence and credibility with my free tips: 9 Words to Avoid & What to Say Instead: https://karenlaos.com/words-to-avoid/My book “Trust Your Own Voice”: https://karenlaos.com/book/Episodes also available on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videos
Karen Laos, Communication Expert and Confidence Cultivator, leverages 25 years in the boardroom and speaking on the world’s most coveted stages such as Google and NASA to transform missed opportunities into wins. She is fiercely committed to her mission of eradicating self-doubt in 10 million women by giving them practical strategies to ask for what they want in the boardroom and beyond. She guides corporations and individuals with her tested communication model to generate consistent results through her Powerful Presence Keynote: How to Be an Influential Communicator. Get my free tips: 9 Words to Avoid & What to Say Instead: https://karenlaos.com/words-to-avoid/ Connect with me:Website: https://www.karenlaos.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenlaosofficial Facebook: Ignite Your Confidence with Karen Laos: https://www.facebook.com/groups/karenlaosconsultingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlaos/Episodes also available on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videosMy book “Trust Your Own Voice”: https://karenlaos.com/book/
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16:33
The Cost of Silence and What to Do About it
Compensation Gaps: Research market rates and come prepared to meetings with your boss. Frame requests around value delivered rather than personal needs.Career Advancement Costs: Document your achievements regularly and present them confidently in your meetings with your boss. Show this value by using examples and metrics.Workplace Dynamics and Respect: Balance warmth and assertiveness with your voice and your expressions.Idea Ownership and Credit: When your idea is overlooked, use the amplification strategy. Ask allies to repeat and credit your ideas in meetings. Avoid hedging when you speak. Build Your Voice: Speak with conviction, authority, and volume. Add vocal variety to sound more interesting and avoid upspeak (where you say a statement as a question mark).Some resources for you:Want to see how you score as a confident communicator? Take The Confidence Cocktail Assessment: https://karenlaos.com/confidence-cocktail-fb/Project more confidence and credibility with my free tips: 9 Words to Avoid & What to Say Instead: https://karenlaos.lpages.co/words-to-avoid/My book “Trust Your Own Voice”: https://karenlaos.com/book/Episodes also available on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videosAbout me:Many years ago I found myself tongue-tied in a boardroom, my colleagues and executives staring at me. My stomach in my throat, I was unable to get the words out (in spite of being in a senior leadership role). Then, I heard my boss shut down the meeting. My heart sank. I was mortified. She pulled me aside and said, "You didn't trust your gut. You could've tabled the meeting like I did."Why didn’t that option occur to me in the moment? Why did I feel like I needed permission?That was the day I set out to change. I began a journey of personal growth to discover the root of the problem. Once I did, I wanted every woman to experience that same freedom.I’m now on a mission to eradicate self-doubt in 10 million women in 10 years by giving them simple strategies to speak up and ask for what they want in the boardroom and beyond, resulting in more clients, job promotions, and negotiation wins.Companies like NASA, Netflix, Google, and Sephora have been propelled toward more effective communication skills through my signature framework, The Confidence Cocktail™.This is your invitation to step into your most confident self so you can catapult your career! Connect with me:Website: https://www.karenlaos.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenlaosofficial Facebook: Ignite Your Confidence with Karen Laos: https://www.facebook.com/groups/karenlaosconsultingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlaos/
Karen Laos, Communication Expert and Confidence Cultivator, leverages 25 years in the boardroom and speaking on the world’s most coveted stages such as Google and NASA to transform missed opportunities into wins. She is fiercely committed to her mission of eradicating self-doubt in 10 million women by giving them practical strategies to ask for what they want in the boardroom and beyond. She guides corporations and individuals with her tested communication model to generate consistent results through her Powerful Presence Keynote: How to Be an Influential Communicator. Get my free tips: 9 Words to Avoid & What to Say Instead: https://karenlaos.com/words-to-avoid/ Connect with me:Website: https://www.karenlaos.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenlaosofficial Facebook: Ignite Your Confidence with Karen Laos: https://www.facebook.com/groups/karenlaosconsultingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlaos/Episodes also available on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videosMy book “Trust Your Own Voice”: https://karenlaos.com/book/
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23:48
How to Be Memorable at Work
If you wonder how you can stand out, be remembered and get more opportunities, listen to these 5 tips that you can immediately apply! Be genuinely curious about others. Ask thoughtful follow-up questions and remember details from previous conversations. When you show real interest in someone's work, hobbies, or challenges, they'll remember how you made them feel heard. People forget what you said but remember how you made them feel.Be fully present when you're with people. In a world of distraction, giving someone your complete attention is increasingly rare and powerful. Put away devices, listen to understand rather than to respond, and engage with what they're actually saying. Tell stories that reveal something about you. Skip the generic small talk and share specific, vivid anecdotes that show your personality or values. A story about the time you failed spectacularly and what you learned is infinitely more memorable than listing your accomplishments.Do something unexpected for others. Send a handwritten note, remember someone's coffee order, or offer help with something completely outside your job description. Small, thoughtful gestures that go beyond what's expected create lasting impressions because they're so rare.Own your quirks and expertise. Whatever makes you different—whether it's an unusual hobby, a specific skill, or even an endearing habit—embrace it rather than hiding it. Being the person who knows everything about vintage motorcycles or always has the perfect book recommendation gives people a mental hook to remember you by.Some resources for you:Want to see how you score as a confident communicator? Take The Confidence Cocktail Assessment: https://karenlaos.com/confidence-cocktail-fb/Project more confidence and credibility with my free tips: 9 Words to Avoid & What to Say Instead: https://karenlaos.lpages.co/words-to-avoid/My book “Trust Your Own Voice”: https://karenlaos.com/book/Episodes also available on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videos
Karen Laos, Communication Expert and Confidence Cultivator, leverages 25 years in the boardroom and speaking on the world’s most coveted stages such as Google and NASA to transform missed opportunities into wins. She is fiercely committed to her mission of eradicating self-doubt in 10 million women by giving them practical strategies to ask for what they want in the boardroom and beyond. She guides corporations and individuals with her tested communication model to generate consistent results through her Powerful Presence Keynote: How to Be an Influential Communicator. Get my free tips: 9 Words to Avoid & What to Say Instead: https://karenlaos.com/words-to-avoid/ Connect with me:Website: https://www.karenlaos.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenlaosofficial Facebook: Ignite Your Confidence with Karen Laos: https://www.facebook.com/groups/karenlaosconsultingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlaos/Episodes also available on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videosMy book “Trust Your Own Voice”: https://karenlaos.com/book/
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22:04
Say Goodbye to People Pleasing
Ever wonder how you’ll ever stop people-pleasing and say yes to yourself instead? This episode is for you! Set small boundaries first. Start with low-stakes situations to practice saying no or expressing your preferences. For example, choosing the restaurant when asked, or declining a small favor when you're genuinely busy. These smaller moments build your confidence for bigger boundary-setting situations.Pause before automatically agreeing. When someone asks something of you, try responding with "Let me check my schedule and get back to you" or "I need to think about that." This brief delay gives you space to consider what you actually want to do rather than reflexively saying yes to avoid disappointing someone.Remember that disappointment isn't dangerous. People-pleasers often fear others' negative reactions, but someone being temporarily disappointed or mildly upset doesn't mean you've done something wrong or that the relationship is in jeopardy. Most healthy relationships can handle occasional "no" responses, and those that can't may need reevaluation.Notice your internal warning signs. Pay attention to feelings of resentment, exhaustion, or anxiety that often accompany over-committing. These emotions are signals that you're stretching yourself too thin to accommodate others. When you catch these feelings early, you can course-correct before burning out.Practice stating your needs directly. Instead of hinting or hoping others will guess what you want, try expressing yourself clearly. Say "I'd prefer to meet at 2 PM" rather than "Whatever time works for you is fine." Direct communication often leads to better outcomes and reduces the mental energy spent on trying to read between the lines.The key is building these skills gradually. People-pleasing patterns developed over time, so changing them takes patience and consistent practice. Some resources for you:Want to see how you score as a confident communicator? Take The Confidence Cocktail Assessment: https://karenlaos.com/confidence-cocktail-fb/Project more confidence and credibility with my free tips: 9 Words to Avoid & What to Say Instead: https://karenlaos.lpages.co/words-to-avoid/My book “Trust Your Own Voice”: https://karenlaos.com/book/Episodes also available on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videos
Karen Laos, Communication Expert and Confidence Cultivator, leverages 25 years in the boardroom and speaking on the world’s most coveted stages such as Google and NASA to transform missed opportunities into wins. She is fiercely committed to her mission of eradicating self-doubt in 10 million women by giving them practical strategies to ask for what they want in the boardroom and beyond. She guides corporations and individuals with her tested communication model to generate consistent results through her Powerful Presence Keynote: How to Be an Influential Communicator. Get my free tips: 9 Words to Avoid & What to Say Instead: https://karenlaos.com/words-to-avoid/ Connect with me:Website: https://www.karenlaos.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenlaosofficial Facebook: Ignite Your Confidence with Karen Laos: https://www.facebook.com/groups/karenlaosconsultingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlaos/Episodes also available on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videosMy book “Trust Your Own Voice”: https://karenlaos.com/book/
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18:56
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18:56
How to Think on Your Feet
In an ideal world, everything goes as planned. Everyone asks the questions you expect and nothing throws you. You and I both know this is not the case. Even for the most well-prepared moment, someone will ask a question or comment that derails your entire thought process, and you’re left with only one option: to think on your feet. Listen to this episode for tips on handling these circumstances with confidence. Tangible Takeaways:Ask these two framing questions when something unexpected occurs: ask, “what’s needed here?” and secondly, “what’s required of me.”The key to thinking on your feet is being cognizant of those around you versus focusing on yourself. This information is vital for quick assessments!If you tend to interject and react too quickly, create a mantra such as “stop, pause, breathe” that you say to yourself to stop yourself from speaking prematurely. The best way to get better at thinking on your feet is to sign up for an improv class! Or have someone practice with you by drilling you with questions.Create space for a “parking lot.” When something doesn’t quite fit into the discussion, move it into the “parking lot” and circle back to it at the end. Some resources for you:Want to see how you score as a confident communicator? Take The Confidence Cocktail Assessment: https://karenlaos.com/confidence-cocktail-fb/Project more confidence and credibility with my free tips: 9 Words to Avoid & What to Say Instead: https://karenlaos.lpages.co/words-to-avoid/My book “Trust Your Own Voice”: https://karenlaos.com/book/Episodes also available on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videos
Karen Laos, Communication Expert and Confidence Cultivator, leverages 25 years in the boardroom and speaking on the world’s most coveted stages such as Google and NASA to transform missed opportunities into wins. She is fiercely committed to her mission of eradicating self-doubt in 10 million women by giving them practical strategies to ask for what they want in the boardroom and beyond. She guides corporations and individuals with her tested communication model to generate consistent results through her Powerful Presence Keynote: How to Be an Influential Communicator. Get my free tips: 9 Words to Avoid & What to Say Instead: https://karenlaos.com/words-to-avoid/ Connect with me:Website: https://www.karenlaos.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenlaosofficial Facebook: Ignite Your Confidence with Karen Laos: https://www.facebook.com/groups/karenlaosconsultingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlaos/Episodes also available on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videosMy book “Trust Your Own Voice”: https://karenlaos.com/book/
Are you a leader holding back? What is that costing you? What if you could channel your fear and self-doubt? It’s actually possible. I know, because that’s my story. That’s what the Ignite Your Confidence podcast is all about. It’s for women in leadership who want to speak up and stand out. You’ll find both solo and candid conversations with real people sharing vulnerable stories to inspire you with simple tips to step into your confidence.
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