“I am more than I thought I was!”

Defeat Imposter Syndrome with this 30-Minute Self-Coaching Activity.

In under 30 minutes, this exercise can check your Imposter Syndrome and reclaim your confidence. Harnessing Strengths, a 30 to 45-minute self-coaching activity, has been adapted from The FROG Effect Workbook by Sarah McVanel and Brenda Zalter-Minden. 

The tagline, “I am more than I thought I was!”, is lifted from the words of an education leader who recently participated in a variation of this activity with her team. How often do we actually take a moment to inventory what’s working for us? And yet, how can we expect to use our top traits if we don’t take a moment to inventory them?

Do not be fooled; this is not merely a self-congratulatory exercise but an opportunity to ground yourself in what you bring today and consider who you are becoming. The Harnessing Strengths self-coaching activity is designed to help you overcome imposter syndrome and regain confidence in your abilities.

Harnessing Strengths

For this 20-35 minute exercise, you will need a list of adjectives; index cards; and two differently colored pens, markers, or highlighters. (Don’t have 2 colors available? Use symbols such as “+” and “O”.)

First, use one color marker to identify your current strengths from the list of adjectives. You can choose as many as you like. Try to limit second-guessing. If you are drawn to it, highlight it!

Next, use a different color marker to identify the skills you have in yourself and want to develop more. Limit yourself to no more than half of the number of strengths you identified in the first step. 

On a growth card or an index card, write "I AM..." at the top and list the top attributes you highlighted in the first color that you believe are your top strengths. You can list as many as you wish from the words you highlighted in the first color. These should be your top strengths, however you identify them.  Don’t be modest; honor your true self.

On the other side of the card, overwrite "I AM BECOMING MORE..." at the top, and add the characteristics highlighted in the second color that you most want to focus on using more. These are strengths you have that you could use more often as they are already things you have inside you. 

Reflect on your strengths on both sides of the card and ask yourself questions such as what you learned about yourself and your strengths, how you see yourself growing into the person you are becoming, and whether there is one characteristic that stands above the others. 

To get a copy of this activity, including printable notecards, a list of adjectives, and follow-up questions, by signing up for our newsletter