In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about middle management. Many of us don’t like to think of ourselves this way but if you’re responsible for managing up and down, you’re likely a middle manager. My guest this week is Jeff Sigel, author of the book The Middle Matters, a Toolkit for Middle Managers. Jeff argues that middle managers are actually doing three roles at once – doing, leading and influencing. But they’re not often given proper guidance on how to effectively perform and balance these roles. Here we talk about the challenges facing middle managers and what you can do to become a more confident, effective leader.

About My Guest
Jeff Sigel is a Strategy, Business Intelligence and Marketing leader with over 20 years of experience across the Food Manufacturing, Grocery Retail, and Restaurant industries. His focus is on helping companies go beyond PowerPoint strategies, ensuring that there is alignment between strategic planning, brand building, analytics, and leadership behaviors at every level. Jeff is particularly passionate about helping middle leaders learn the skills they need to deliver results, build engaged teams, and realize bold visions for the future.

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Connect with Jeff:
Website: www.proprioceptive.io/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TwinningStrategy

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Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:

Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:
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Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:
https://www.kimmeninger.com/leadinghumansgroup

Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6

Join the Facebook group:
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Schedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session

Connect on LinkedIn:
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Website:
https://kimmeninger.com

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about balancing work with career management. Many women tend to struggle with prioritizing their own career growth because they’re too focused on the needs of the business. This week, I talk with Marja Wagenaar, a leadership specialist, former member of parliament in the Netherlands and author of “The Leadership Book for Women”. Here we discuss the ways in which we hold ourselves back by doing silent work without recognition, hesitating to raise our hands for new opportunities and focusing too heavily on being a “good girl”. We also explore her 50/50 method, which is designed to break these habits so that you can more confidently and effectively advance your career.

About My Guest
Marja Wagenaar PhD is a leadership expert. With her company Leadershipint. she helps leaders and their organizations to advance their strength worldwide. She developed the 50/50 method: a successful approach for female leaders and all those women who aspire to become a leader.

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Connect with Marja:
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Book-Women-Marja-Wagenaar/dp/9089657223
Website: https://www.leadershipint.com/

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Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:

Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:
https://www.kimmeninger.com/challenge

Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:
https://www.kimmeninger.com/leadinghumansgroup

Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6

Join the Facebook group:
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Schedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session

Connect on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/

Website:
https://kimmeninger.com

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about people management. Whether or not you manage people today, you likely know that it’s a tough job! Not only do you have responsibility for a team of people who are relying on you but you’ve likely gotten very little training and support on how to lead them effectively. My guest this week is Cree Scott, founder and CEO of Serenity and consulting psychologist who specializes in human-centered leadership development. Here we talk about the challenges facing people leaders, how to evaluate whether or not you want to manage people and what you can do to show up more confidently in the role.

About My Guest
Dr. Cree Scott, founder and CEO of Serenity, is an esteemed consulting psychologist with over 15 years of experience specializing in human-centered leadership development through a change management lens. With a robust background in clinical psychology, consulting, and executive coaching, she excels in creating customized leadership development programs for a diverse range of industries, leveraging evidence-based practices for impactful learning and growth. Dr. Scott combines the rigor of psychology with a strengths-based approach to drive organizational change and personal breakthroughs in leadership.

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Connect with Cree:
Website: www.serenitypsyhealth.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/creescott/
LinkedIn Learning: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/facilitating-safe-authentic-communication-as-a-leader/guiding-principles-for-safe-space-conversations

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Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:

Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:
https://www.kimmeninger.com/challenge

Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:
https://www.kimmeninger.com/leadinghumansgroup

Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6

Join the Facebook group:
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Schedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session

Connect on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/

Website:
https://kimmeninger.com

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about the power of an anti-vision. Visions can be inspiring but they’re often not powerful enough to break through fear. My guest this week, author and coach Scott Allan, talks about how he uses an anti-vision to push himself out of his comfort zone and face his fears. We also talk about the importance of reminding ourselves that confidence follows action, celebrating small wins and recognizing when we might be a little too comfortable.

About My Guest
With his books published in 16 languages, and over 500,000 copies sold worldwide, Scott Allan is on a mission to transform the human potential. Scott is the bestselling author of Fail Big, Relaunch Your Life, and Do the Hard Things First.

As a former corporate business trainer in Japan and Transformational Success Strategist, he has invested over 10,000 hours of practice and research into confidence development and mindset mastery training.

With an unrelenting passion for teaching, building critical life skills, and inspiring people worldwide to take charge of their lives, he is committed to a path of constant and never-ending self-improvement.

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Connect with Scott:
Website: https://scottallanbooks.com/

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Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:

Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:
https://www.kimmeninger.com/challenge

Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:
https://www.kimmeninger.com/leadinghumansgroup

Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6

Join the Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/leadinghumans

Schedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session

Connect on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/

Website:
https://kimmeninger.com

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk stress and burnout. If you’re a high achiever (hint: if you’re listening to this podcast, you are), you’re likely at higher risk for stress and burnout because of the way you approach your work. My guest this week is Avery Thatcher, a former ICU nurse who now specializes in burnout recovery. Avery shares her personal journey as someone who understood the risk factors for burnout yet still suffered from what she refers to as her own epic burnout experience. Here we talk about the three stages of chronic stress and how to recognize them. We also talk about how to manage our energy to prevent burnout. And we talk about how to do your best work without the pressure to always be perfect.

About My Guest
Avery Thatcher is a former ICU Registered Nurse with over a decade of experience specializing in acute and chronic stress, it's impact on the body, and how to prevent or even reverse the negative health effects of stress to avoid burnout and illness. In her Flow State app, and group programs, she has been helping highly sensitive high achievers recover their energy and optimize their habits so they can elevate their impact since she started her business in 2015.

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Connect with Avery:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetruthaboutburnout/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becomingavery/
Website: www.thetruthaboutburnout.com

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Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:

Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:
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Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:
https://www.kimmeninger.com/leadinghumansgroup

Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6

Join the Facebook group:
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Schedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session

Connect on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/

Website:
https://kimmeninger.com

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about how using problem-solving frameworks can help you ease self-doubt and make better decisions. My guest this week, Tommy Ogden, co-founder of Activera Consulting, shares his career journey, including the twists and turns along the way. Here we talk about the importance of trying new things to figure out what you want to do, failing quickly and moderating your expectations when you’re learning something new. Tommy also shares practical frameworks you can use to make more confident decisions and temper your impostor syndrome.

About My Guest
Tommy Ogden is the Co-Founder and Agility & Analytics Lead of Activera Consulting, a boutique management consulting firm based in Houston, Texas, focused on the future of energy. With expertise in strategy, execution, and change, Activera's collaborative teams approach complex challenges with a mindset of inquiry. They tailor and custom-build solutions with a dedicated focus on measurable impact for clients.

Possessing a diverse skill set across many industries and educational pursuits, Tommy has developed business acumen through 20 years of experience working in myriad capacities, including – investment advisor, financial analyst, business analyst, management/strategy consultant, and project/program manager. He has earned certifications as a Project Management Professional (PMP), Professional Scrum Master (PSM), and SAFe Practice Consultant (SPC). He is known for his ability to produce unique ideas for solving problems, offer an innovative perspective, and lead a team to accomplish results within assigned deadlines, having consistently provided actionable deliverables in the agility, analytics, and strategy arenas.

Tommy also holds two Masters degrees in business administration – an MBA and a Master of Global Management in International Business & Consulting – and has most recently worked for two Fortune 20 companies in both the technology and energy industries. He was driven to continue his business education by a desire to (co-)found and lead his own business as an entrepreneur.

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Connect with Tommy:
Website: www.activeraconsulting.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TommyOgden
Email: togden@activeraconsulting.com

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Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:

Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:
https://www.kimmeninger.com/challenge

Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:
https://www.kimmeninger.com/leadinghumansgroup

Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6

Join the Facebook group:
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Schedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session

Connect on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/

Website:
https://kimmeninger.com

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about the link between our identities and our jobs. Losing or leaving our jobs can be emotionally challenging because of the weight our jobs hold in our lives. Too often, we continue along the path in front of us because we’re afraid of who we’ll be, or won’t be, if we make a career change. My guest this week, Jen Lewi is the founder and CEO of Design Your Next Step. Here we talk about how to navigate the grief and identity challenges we face when making a career transition.

About My Guest
Jen Lewi, MBA, CAE, ACC, is the Founder and CEO of Design Your Next Step, a boutique Executive Coaching and Career Strategy firm, helping professionals maximize their strengths and design fulfilling career paths. Jen’s clients have:

• Transitioned smoothly into a new role or industry.
• Overcome workplace challenges.
• Advanced their leadership skills.
• Grown their professional brands.
• Job-crafted to design more fulfilling jobs.
• Explored, and pursued new career paths.
• Navigated parenthood with a rewarding career.

Throughout her career, Jen mastered the art of job-crafting to build fulfilling roles. She applies that learning when clients want to build a new career path, navigate a new position, or make the most of their current jobs. At the School Nutrition Association, she held a variety of senior roles in marketing, membership, professional development, and conferences. She started her career in the corporate world with leadership roles in marketing at BBC America and in advertising at Saatchi & Saatchi. These experiences allow her to link corporate and non-profit best practices and provide an international perspective to coaching engagements, as needed. Jen holds multiple coaching certifications, a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University and a Masters in Management, from HEC Paris.

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Connect with Jen:
Website: www.designyournextstep.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenlewi/
Article links:
https://www.fastcompany.com/90874258/to-advance-your-career-you-may-want-to-think-like-a-designer

https://www.fastcompany.com/90932964/5-ways-to-build-your-career-strategy-on-linkedin

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Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:

Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:
https://www.kimmeninger.com/challenge

Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:
https://www.kimmeninger.com/leadinghumansgroup

Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6

Join the Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/leadinghumans

Schedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session

Connect on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/

Website:
https://kimmeninger.com

In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we talk about managing the pressure to be an A student at work. Many of us felt really comfortable in school because we were given very clear instructions. The workplace, unfortunately, does not come with clear instructions, yet we cling to old habits for the illusion of emotional safety these habits bring us. My guest this week, Lauree Ostrofsky, helps introverts, A students and overthinkers to more confidently take their next leap. Here Lauree and I explore how deciding for ourselves what’s good enough can help us manage perfectionism and begin to loosen the unrealistic standards we hold ourselves to so that we can do more of what is meaningful to us.

About My Guest
Lauree helps career-minded introverts, overthinkers and A students clarify their next leap and feel more confident putting themselves out there. She's the author of the happy how-to, "Simply Leap,” and the memoir, "I'm scared & doing it anyway," about her own leaps after a brain tumor diagnosis at 28. She's a coach, hugger and people connector, and believes wholeheartedly in Doing Business Differently. Get acquainted at SimplyLeap.com.

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Connect with Lauree:
Overthinker's Quiz: https://simplyleap.com/quiz
Book: https://simplyleap.com/book
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lauree_ostrofsky
LinkedIn: https://linkedIn.com/in/laureeostrofsky

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Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:

Join the free Impostor Syndrome Challenge:
https://www.kimmeninger.com/challenge

Learn more about the Leading Humans discussion group:
https://www.kimmeninger.com/leadinghumansgroup

Join the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other professionals: https://forms.gle/Ts4Vg4Nx4HDnTVUC6

Join the Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/leadinghumans

Schedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challenges: https://bookme.name/ExecCareer/strategy-session

Connect on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmeninger/

Website:
https://kimmeninger.com