Last updated: May 2026
Imposter syndrome at work is the persistent feeling that you don't deserve your professional position despite real evidence to the contrary, and it's especially common in creative work, where output is subjective and personal. The creatives we talked to don't beat it through sheer willpower. They use a small set of repeatable moves: talking back to the inner critic, anchoring on external evidence of past success, saying "I don't know" out loud, and getting comfortable with being a beginner again. Part 2 of this series goes deeper on the imposter syndrome material that Part 1 only touched.
Quick takeaways — how creatives handle imposter syndrome:
This is part 2 of a 2-part series. Read part 1 here.
For World Creativity and Innovation Day, we sat down with four members of the creative department at Major Tom. They weighed in on their own personal habits for overcoming creative blocks, where they find inspiration, and what it means to wrestle with imposter syndrome in creative work — because creativity is what differentiates a great brand from a forgettable one, and the people doing that creative work still need ways to keep going when self-doubt kicks in.
Imposter syndrome at work tends to hit harder in creative roles than in most other professional contexts. Output is subjective, feedback comes loaded with taste, and there's no compiler to tell you the work is "right." The two creatives below talk through how they recognize the feeling when it shows up, and the moves they use to keep working through it rather than letting it shut them down.
Ed started building user experiences in 2009 as an industrial designer, combining art, business, and engineering to create usable products. He moved into service design and UX six years later. When Ed works with branding and packaging, he cites nature as his biggest inspiration, pulling influence from biomimetics.
Ed: "Music and headphones is my go-to when I have to start something new and dig deep into it! I also like to be mentally prepared for the challenge — I like to sleep on the problem if possible, and have a block of hours dedicated to solving it on the following day."
Sleeping on it is a tried-and-true method of working through difficult problems. REM sleep links thoughts together in novel ways. Ever wake up in the morning and immediately start jotting down notes about a current project? That's REM helping you out.
Ed: "As a designer, my main goal is to solve problems. Mind maps, prioritization, pros and cons notes are super helpful! I notice that when I experience some blocks, it is usually because I'm missing some information, or some project decision needs to be made before I move forward with finding a solution. 'What problem am I solving?' is always the first question I ask myself."
The question Ed asks himself can apply to many mediums. When writing anything, ask yourself an iteration of the same thing: "What argument am I making?". Starting a project with a clear destination in mind keeps you focused.
Ed: "I believe having WFH days positively affects productivity, however, it's important to make yourself available and interact with people. Being creative is about finding different approaches to the same problem, and different mindsets will help you with this."
The creative department at Major Tom sets aside specific time twice a week where the team can bounce ideas or issues off each other, looking for creative solutions or fresh perspectives. The meetings encourage creative discussions and have led to some innovative end results. The takeaway: agencies and individuals working from home can benefit from setting deliberate time to interact, especially with an open forum for working through creative issues.
Ed: "I often overthink people's reaction to my ideas, comments, and more. My first advice is: Don't overthink it! The second thing comes from my old boss, which I really admire: Don't be afraid to say 'I don't know'. He used to say that quite often and this instilled the team's creativity."
Admitting when you don't know something can be intimidating but ultimately is rewarding. You become more competent, and it gives your peers the opportunity to teach you something. Saying "I don't know" can help you advance in all areas of your life, both personal and professional.
Carolina Horna fell into social media management during her career in community relations. Coordinating community events for a real estate developer, she relied on social media as a promotional tool, which led her to a career in digital marketing.
Carolina finds inspiration all around herself: in social media, podcasts, quotes, music, the people who surround her, and nature.
Carolina: "MUSIC! I find when I'm struggling to get in the zone, music is the perfect way to focus my attention. Perhaps it's the white noise or the way I've conditioned myself, but anytime the earbuds go on, I have mentally prepared myself to take care of business.
As for mantras, these days I find myself repeating 'Just start somewhere.' There are times I get paralyzed by the amount of work I know something is going to take. Which only helps me procrastinate a task even more. By repeating this to myself, I remind myself that smaller tasks chip away at the bigger task as a whole and I CAN get it done."
Carolina's mantra echoes Desmond Tutu's quote: "There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time." When the task at hand seems overwhelming, sometimes the best move is to make a list and start checking it off.
Carolina: "I've been trying to walk and run more these days, maintaining a safe distance of course. Since we're cooped up indoors, the same environment every single day starts to feel stale. Changing the scenery and doing something physical takes me out of my head, giving me the mental break to allow my mind to wander and stumble upon solutions I otherwise would not have seen before.
When I can't get out due to weather or the time of day, I try to do something else creative (i.e. photography, write, or paint). I like to assign myself personal projects, whether it's a theme for a photo shoot or trying to paint something online. When I pull a mental switch like this — doing something I enjoy — I either create that mental break I needed by doing something manual or I challenge myself to think in a different way."
Your mind associates feelings with places, so switching up your environment can help combat frustration or stagnated thoughts.
Carolina: "I feel imposter syndrome all the damn time! It's hard to shake and while I don't think it ever fully goes away, I do think there are ways to manage it.
At the end of the day, imposter syndrome is an insecurity. Like any insecurity, that stems from a fear that you can acknowledge and refute.
While I know I'm not the best at everything, I try to focus on the things I am good at that make me an expert in my field or uniquely positioned to do what I do best. So for instance, instead of lying to myself and saying 'I'm the best analytics person ever', I remind myself daily that 'I am a smart and creative person who has good ideas and valid opinions.' After a while, this reassurance mentally arms me for the moments my negativity creeps in.
Second, I'm pretty sentimental, so I also like to save notes or praise from other people (friends, team members, family, etc.) that I can refer to when I need a boost.
Third, I like to go through my past work, whether it's projects, photography artwork, blog posts, etc. I like to use these trips down memory lane as either inspiration or validation. Sometimes I surprise myself with my past ideas, execution, and talents.
Finally, I like to do new things that scare me. I haven't done this in a while, but when the opportunities come up, I feel it in my gut and I try to say 'yes' to the experience. There's no better way to prove you're a capable person than by putting yourself to the test."
Acknowledging and refuting imposter syndrome can come in many forms. Talking back to your inner critic — the way Carolina does when she focuses on the things she's good at — is one of them. Backing it up with external evidence, like praise from others or your own past work, helps silence your inner critic further. Carolina's reminder is to lean into your strengths and remember that creativity is a valuable skill that not everyone possesses.
Creativity is the driving force behind innovation, whether it's scientific, technological, or cultural. Creative blocks are barriers to that innovation, and imposter syndrome is one of the most stubborn barriers there is. Don't let either stop you from starting, or finishing, your next creative venture.
If you're leading a creative team and trying to build the kind of environment that makes those blocks easier to navigate, that's where Major Tom's brand strategy work often picks up — defining the creative direction that gives the team something solid to push against. You can also browse our case studies to see what that direction looks like once it ships.
Imposter syndrome is the persistent feeling that you don't deserve your professional position, achievements, or recognition despite real evidence that you do. It's not an official medical diagnosis — it's a pattern of thinking, first named by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes in 1978. Most people who experience it secretly believe they've fooled others into thinking they're more capable than they are.
Creative work amplifies imposter syndrome because the output is subjective and personal. Unlike code that compiles or numbers that balance, a design or campaign can always be "better," and the feedback comes loaded with taste. High performers, perfectionists, people in unfamiliar environments, and anyone whose work is reviewed in public tend to be more vulnerable — which is most of the creative industry.
Start by acknowledging it instead of pushing it away. Build a folder of past wins, kind notes, and projects you're proud of, and re-read it when self-doubt spikes. Talk back to your inner critic with specific evidence rather than generic affirmations. Ask "I don't know" questions out loud. And take on small new challenges deliberately, so you keep proving to yourself that you're capable.
Dr. Valerie Young, the leading expert on imposter syndrome, identified five archetypes: the Perfectionist (nothing is ever good enough), the Superwoman/Superman (overworking to compensate), the Natural Genius (success should come easily), the Soloist (asking for help feels like failure), and the Expert (you must know everything before you start). Knowing your type makes the feeling easier to name and manage.
Name the voice. Inner critics get quieter when you treat them as a character rather than the truth. Replace generic self-talk ("I'm bad at this") with specific, evidence-based statements ("I am a creative person with valid ideas"). Keep external proof close: saved praise, finished projects, kind notes. And get outside input from someone you trust before catastrophizing the work.
In small doses, yes. The same self-doubt that makes you anxious also makes you prepare harder, double-check your work, and stay open to feedback. The trouble is when it tips from healthy humility into chronic self-erasure — when it stops you from speaking up, taking on a stretch project, or sharing your ideas. The goal isn't zero imposter feelings; it's stopping them from running your career.