We were lucky to catch up with Victoria Fusco recently and have shared our conversation below.
Victoria, 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.
I don’t think anyone ever completely over comes this if you’re growing. Imposter syndrome comes from not being amazing at something and usually that happens when we do something new to us or we are in new environments with new people.
So really, this is something that never goes away but we can learn the tools and techniques to work through it faster and with less damage every time we encounter it.
The things I do to put this into practice when that sneaky feeling of “not good enough” creeps up is prioritize time to sit with myself and reflect. I write down 30 reasons why I absolutely am qualified to do the thing or be in the room.
This is a practice I use with my clients as well. Working with Executives and managers at all levels I’ve found the biggest things we work on together are overcoming imposter syndrome and mindset.
Hitting 30 can be surprisingly difficult. Especially if it’s new territory for you. But even if it takes a few months, complete the list! As you do this new thing, it makes you look at what you’re doing in a positive manner instead of what you’re doing wrong. Ask “why am I good at this/deserve to be here?” and “What skillsets do I already possess that will help me in this? How can I leverage them?”
The only constant in life is failure, if we can shift the perspective around failure being bad into failure being an opportunity for growth we can move past failure quicker, feel more confident in doing so and continue to grow into that future version of ourselves.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
As the visionary behind The Leader HQ, I leverage over a decade of leadership and entrepreneurial expertise. I believe effective communication can change the world and am deeply committed to empowering leaders to reach their highest potential.
Starting my entrepreneurial journey in 2013, my experience has shaped my approach as a leadership coach. I am a sought-after national speaker on organizational excellence, inspiring leaders and future entrepreneurs. I combine my expertise, habit-forming frameworks, and team management skills with a focus on growth, purpose, and achievement to drive individual and organizational change.
At The Leader HQ, I am dedicated to building strong leaders and teams by providing guidance, community, support, and accountability. My vision is to create a culture of continuous growth, where leaders embrace mentorship and foster empathy and learning. I aim to unlock leadership potential and make a lasting impact on individuals and organizations.
My journey highlights the transformative power of mentorship. My mission is to empower leaders to unlock their full potential, creating a ripple effect of positive change throughout organizations. I look forward to connecting with and serving leaders and their teams to shape the future of leadership.
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?
Seeing that not everyone/thing is meant for me or is directed towards me.
Being able to connect with people on a deeper level in a short amount of time.
Identify root problems in setbacks, conflict or obstacles.
Using those 3 skillsets that come naturally to me, I was able to build a business combining those 3 things and help clients at a higher level, leaving people better than when we met!
If you haven’t identified your natural skillsets yet, just start today with taking time to analyze what you’re good at doing, even in little tasks. Sometimes all it takes is a moment of intentional reflection. Also, ask others around you that you trust. Ask your collogues, ask your friends, ask your partner.
Pro tip: dig deep and find those intangible skillsets. Do you listen well? Do you excel at bringing others together? Are you great at organization? Are you good at creating something from nothing, idea wise? Everyone has innate intangible gifts, sometimes you just have to start looking and try new things to find them.
If you have identified your skillsets, start brainstorming ideas about how you can implement those into what you’re doing now. If you’re in a role you don’t like and it doesn’t utilize those gifts, identify a new role and start documenting things you do or have done that would benefit the company by placing you in that role.
Just some thoughts, but the key point is awareness, documentation and analysis.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents taught me people skills. They also empowered me to follow my passion relentlessly. I think a simple thing like holding space for your child to “figure it out”, then encouraging them along the way and believing in them really makes all the difference. I feel privileged in that sense as I know there are too many people who do not receive encouragement from their family and I couldn’t imagine being in that position!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theleaderhq.com
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- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theleaderhq
- Youtube: The Leader HQ
Image Credits
Trilby Saldana – Empower Soul 2 Soul
Wayne Waweru – Fith Wood Media
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
