Well, based on a number of conversations with respected male friends -- accomplished leaders all, I know that at least some men feel and express the same sense of fraud and self doubt regularly. I see it expressed far more often by and among women for sure -- maybe that is a privilege of gender in this case. The upside to the feeling that you don't know enough is that you may listen better to others. Having hit the other side of fifty, it is too easy to think that I know more and have better answers than everyone else. Though I have at times felt marginalized, I have been a marginalizer too. That is, I have ignored or abused power dynamics in such a way as to shut others down or at least not help make space for their contributions. I am a better professional, a better person, when I am confident enough to contribute and humble enough to appreciate the knowledge, expertise, and life experience of others.
Well, based on a number of conversations with respected male friends -- accomplished leaders all, I know that at least some men feel and express the same sense of fraud and self doubt regularly. I see it expressed far more often by and among women for sure -- maybe that is a privilege of gender in this case. The upside to the feeling that you don't know enough is that you may listen better to others. Having hit the other side of fifty, it is too easy to think that I know more and have better answers than everyone else. Though I have at times felt marginalized, I have been a marginalizer too. That is, I have ignored or abused power dynamics in such a way as to shut others down or at least not help make space for their contributions. I am a better professional, a better person, when I am confident enough to contribute and humble enough to appreciate the knowledge, expertise, and life experience of others.