Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessica Rice. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jessica, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Imposter syndrome is a topic that often comes up during coaching conversations with clients, especially with women. Some people do not believe it exists, while others feel it is overused. We most often relate imposter syndrome to a lack of confidence in oneself, which can stem from feelings of inadequacy or a lack of belonging. These feelings can be deeply rooted in our childhood or experiences earlier in life. I am not sure why more women struggle with imposter syndrome more than men, outside of upbringing and different expectations put on boys to succeed in sports, school, and, inevitably, their careers. It’s as if success is a natural progression for men to achieve, whereas girls are often brought up to rely on boys to fulfill their greater aspirations and use the “princess syndrome” to achieve their dreams of motherhood.
When women don’t fall under those perceived notions of success, we start to question our belonging and ability to perform in largely male-dominated environments. While the perceptions are shifting and an increased number of women are rising to the top and leading large corporations, there are still micro-aggressions and subtle biases that we face that further our feelings of inadequacy and question our abilities.
For me, imposter syndrome presented itself as a disbelief in my own talents. I did not recognize some of my natural gifts because they were not something lauded early on – the ability to push back, think strategically, and leverage big-picture thinking were not skills that I was admired for among my peers. My ability to communicate business needs and think broadly started bringing about greater opportunities. However, since my engineering colleagues focused mainly on my coding abilities, I struggled to see my value. Even when promoted to engineering manager, I questioned whether they realized I wasn’t the strongest coder. Only after letting go of my need to prove myself in areas where I was weakest continually did I recognize my strengths and learn how to lean into them more judiciously.
Despite feeling nervous and apprehensive, learning to maximize my strengths enabled me to develop my authentic leadership voice. It gave me confidence in knowing which areas I excel in and when I need to lean on others. Learning how to partner with others was a powerful and liberating tool after spending years trying to mask my insecurities. It’s what led me to coaching and transitioning to leadership development.
Too often, we focus on improving the wrong things instead of refining the right ones.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Jessica Rice is a certified ICF Coach, Author, and host of the Hello You Show. She is focused on helping visionary leaders and entrepreneurs build their own leadership brands and reach extraordinary goals.
With over 15 years of corporate experience in brand, UX, engineering, and leadership, Jessica brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her coaching clients. Her clients have achieved remarkable results from discovering their golden path to rediscovering their zone of genius. Jessica provides tailored support and guidance to help break through limitations, increase productivity, and lead with impact. Jessica is passionate about helping women to be empowered by their natural strengths and own them fully.
Listen to the Hello You Show and become inspired to embrace your authentic voice and lean into your higher calling in life and leadership.
Ready to boost your impact? Receive a complimentary Leadership Brand Audit and discover your unique leadership archetype. https://jessicaricecoaching.com/services/
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I believe that we all have unique gifts and talents that lend themselves to discovering what our greater purpose is in our careers and lives. I have always had a propensity to examine myself. Having a willingness to explore my strengths and weaknesses openly and recognize where I had room to grow was a huge asset as I moved through my corporate career and into establishing my coaching brand and company.
I am a visionary thinker and tend to imagine the big picture and then narrow down the actionable steps to attaining it. In essence, I walk to the beat of my own drum. This has pushed me to reach beyond the areas from where I stood to share ideas with leaders long before I was a leader myself. It also enabled me to communicate with all levels of corporate executives. My father always taught me that everyone is equal, “We all put on our shoes the same way,” which diminished my fear of speaking to people more successful than me and has enabled me to coach individuals at a deeper level to reach the root of their concerns.
My advice to anyone seeking more in life is to understand your strengths and own them fully. Diminishing yourself with humility or fear will not lead to safety; it only makes you blend in and disappear. We each have something to share and contribute that is valuable; knowing how to embody your strengths and share your message is the key to thriving in your career.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
We first need to understand our strengths the areas where we most naturally fit, before we can understand how to address our gaps.
Not all gaps are bad. Knowing where you have weaknesses can be equally beneficial. When you can recognize and admit that you are not strong in a particular area, you then have the power to own your weakness. It may seem odd, but we can’t be good at everything. When you embrace your weaknesses, you are able to relinquish your need to control a situation. You are free to ask for help and open yourself up to growing in ways that best suit your natural qualities.
There is always room for improvement, but we must wisely discern where to invest our time and efforts. Admitting to a weakness means you are no longer naive to your shortcomings. You can now decide whether to grow in that area or leverage someone else to help you. It does not permit you to behave poorly, so there is a big difference. The lack of acknowledgment or knowing is where people often run into trouble; they are blind to their negative impact or behaviors. When you know your weakness, you know what to avoid.
The same is true for harnessing your strengths. You can lean into them further, expand on them, and continue to grow. Having a strength or propensity for something does not mean you are perfect at it. It just means you excel in that area and have the potential to become excellent.
It comes down to awareness and energy. When you focus on growing your strengths, you have a greater opportunity to reach new heights. If you focus on the weakest areas, you may find it less fulfilling and more stressful. It’s possible to grow in those areas, but you have to know why you are doing it. There is wisdom in knowing the difference to empower your growth to the maximum potential.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jessicaricecoaching.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jessicaricecoaching
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/jessicaricecoaching
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/jessicakarlrice
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/RiceCoaching
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessicaricecoaching-sw2ec
