What do bn’aires, Oscar-hoisting actors, all-star athletes, and corporate executives all have in common? It’s not confidence — it’s doubt. Speaking to Fortune, David Rogier, CEO of MasterClass — a USD 2.8 bn platform where experts teach their crafts — says that even the most accomplished people in the world are constantly seeking validation. “Every single one of our instructors, every time you cut the camera, ask: What things went well? What things did not? What can they improve?” This suggests two truths: Success doesn’t cure insecurity, and the grind never stops.

The science of self-doubt: A recent meta-analysis of health service providers found that 62%of professionals experience imposter syndrome globally, though prevalence rates across different studies range up to82%. Originally identified among high-achieving women in the late 1970s, research now shows that imposter syndrome affects both men and women across various professional settings.

It’s not a bug — it’s a feature: “If you’re not in rooms where you [think] you don’t deserve to be in, you’re not trying that hard,” NYU marketing professor Scott Galloway said on his podcast. That discomfort you feel in important meetings? Galloway says that’s not evidence you don’t belong — it’s proof you’re pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone.

Learning to learn: Rogier calls the ability to learn new things quickly the most critical skill in today’s economy. For those feeling out of depth in new roles or high-stakes environments, Galloway offers guidance rooted in famed boxer Muhammed Ali’s philosophy that fights are won outside the ring: “For the first 6 or 12 months until you’re really confident… the way you show up is by training like crazy.” His advice echoes what Rogier observed about high achievers on MasterClass: they listen more than they perform, and they ask for feedback constantly.

When self-doubt becomes harmful: While moderate imposter syndrome can signal healthy ambition, the line between productive discomfort and harmful self-doubt often appears when imposter feelings cause you to either reduce effort and ask for tasks seen as futile, or excessively increase effort to overcome perceived shortcomings. Research shows that overactive imposter syndrome can affect confidence and motivation in ways common to both depression and anxiety that can create a self-reinforcing cycle of doubt and stagnation.

How to address imposter syndrome in the workplace: Organizations face a paradox when it comes to imposter syndrome in their ranks: on one hand, employees who experience moderate self-doubt often demonstrate the very qualities companies prize: humility, willingness to learn, and drive for continuous improvement. On the other hand, research shows that it is significantly associated with impaired job performance, reduced satisfaction, and burnout.

Forward-thinking companies are beginning to address this tension directly by implementing peer mentorship programs specifically designed to normalize conversations about self-doubt, while others train managers to recognize when an employee’s perfectionism crosses from productive to destructive. The goal is creating environments where people can harness their self-doubt as fuel for growth while having safety nets that prevent them from spiraling into burnout.

Tags: