When you imagine a top performer at work, you probably picture someone like Jan.
She’s experienced, respected, and widely viewed as successful. To everyone around her, she seems confident and capable. But what they can’t see is the cycle of self-doubt spinning just beneath the surface—a cycle that steals joy, fuels burnout, and leaves top performers trapped in anxiety.
In her book Impostor Phenomenon, Pauline Clance describes a cyclical pattern of behavior exhibited by most people struggling with this self-doubt. It’s characterized by certain thoughts, feelings and actions, and Jan’s journey is a textbook illustration of this cycle. In my most recent book, Get Your Best People to Give Their Best Effort, I summarize the cycle like this:
Stage 0: The Comfort Zone
Jan worked hard to build her success. After earning her degree, she spent several years excelling at her job, gaining respect and confidence. She felt secure, strong, and proud of her accomplishments.
She’s thinking, “I’m good at this. I’m comfortable here.”
She’s feeling confident, secure and personal pride.
Stage 1: The Seed of Doubt
A promotion—something to celebrate—triggered a different reaction. With change came uncertainty:
“Why me? What if I fail? Can I sustain this success?”
Suddenly, excitement was edged out by fear, insecurity, and second-guessing.
Stage 2: Drive and Mis-Drive
In response to rising anxiety, Jan doubled down, working harder than ever to prove herself. But sometimes, she also procrastinated—getting stuck in busywork instead of tackling the tough tasks head-on.
The harder she tried, the more isolated and inadequate she felt.
Stage 3: Triumph Time
When Jan eventually succeeded—crushing a goal or solving a complex problem—others celebrated her.
But internally, she chalked it up to luck, timing, or the support of others.
Rather than owning her success, she felt embarrassed, guilty, even ashamed.
Stage 4: Rinse and Repeat
No matter how many wins she stacked up, the fear remained:
“What if I can’t keep it up? What if they find out I’m a fraud?”
So the cycle resets—doubt, drive, denial, repeat.
Why It Matters:
This hidden cycle is exhausting. It robs your best people of energy, creativity, and fulfillment.
Worse, it often goes unnoticed because it hides behind what looks like ambition and hard work.
As leaders, it’s essential to recognize the signs and step in to break the cycle. That begins by creating a culture where asking for help is encouraged, mistakes are normalized, and success is attributed to effort and ability—not just luck.
Jan’s journey isn’t rare. It’s happening right now on your team.
The good news? It doesn’t have to be permanent.
Key Takeaway:
Awareness is the first step. Empowerment is the second.
By spotting and supporting your “Jans,” you help them escape the exhausting cycle—and unlock their true potential.