The cure for imposter syndrome as a marketer

Radically Transparent Published: July 14, 2022
The cure for imposter syndrome as a marketer

Chedva Kleinhandler, CEO & Founder of Rooms and Words takes the hot seat on the Radically Transparent podcast.

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Episode summary

According to a 2020 review, 9%-82% of people experience a form of imposter syndrome throughout their lifetime – and that number increases in the first few weeks of starting a new job.

In fact, it can affect anyone. With the rapidly changing landscape of B2B marketing, it can be easy as a marketing leader to feel like a fraud and have a fear of being discovered. Many marketers feel it’s challenging to internalize success.

Chedva Kleinhandler, CEO and Founder of Rooms and Words, gets radically transparent in this episode about her unconventional career path. Starting as a translator in an ultra-orthodox Jewish community, she became a wildly successful, award-winning serial founder, featured on Forbes, BBC, Wired, Thrive Global, and more.

Chedva also candidly unravels how she tackled imposter syndrome throughout her career, and what she is doing now as a leader to ensure her team overcomes any feelings of fraud. She even reveals the questions she asks her team to help get them out of their comfort zone and into their “Genius Zone” (originally coined by Gay Hendricks in his book, The Big Leap) in order to unlock their highest potential.

For Chedva, there is no room for imposter syndrome! Yet, she does acknowledge that it’s a completely normal feeling to have at any stage of your career.

The cure? You’ll have to listen to find out!

Hot topics of this episode include:

  • The zone of genius and how to unlock it – both as a leader in technology and for your entire team; how to steer clear of the comfort zone
  • The cure for imposter syndrome as a marketing leader – and the secrets to staying confident in what you bring to the table
  • Why asking the right questions is far more important than having all the right answers

Meet Chedva Kleinhandler

Chedva is the CEO and Founder of Rooms & Words, a full-stack content, and strategy agency. Chedva is also a Future of Work expert and the host of the Looks Like Work podcast. Previously, she was Co-founder & CEO at Emerj, an award-winning mentoring startup. She’s been featured by the BBC, Wired, Huffington Post, and more, and has given keynote speeches at Facebook, Microsoft, and Google.

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Want more Chedva? Check out her podcast Looks Like Work!

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Radically Transparent is a podcast geared towards the modern-day B2B marketer. Host Jennifer Gutman and her guests are a mixture of renowned marketing and sales leaders from B2B marketing organizations around the globe.

Each episode shines a light on the inner workings of B2B leadership– including what keeps successful CEOs, CMOs, VPs, and social media teams up at night, professionally. The conversations are real, raw, and authentic, all while revealing to listeners the unfiltered, not-so-known truths of today’s most interesting marketers.

Quickly becoming one of Oktopost’s most popular original podcast shows on the internet, new episodes air every Thursday on Radically Transparent, a podcast channel, built for marketers, by marketers.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can B2B marketing leaders effectively combat imposter syndrome within their teams?

The episode with Chedva Kleinhandler highlights that imposter syndrome is common, even for successful leaders. Effectively combating it involves fostering an environment where team members feel safe to move beyond their comfort zones into their 'Genius Zone,' as coined by Gay Hendricks. This often requires leaders to ask strategic questions that encourage self-reflection and help team members unlock their highest potential, promoting confidence and internalizing success within the B2B context.

What is the 'Genius Zone' and how do B2B leaders unlock it for their organizations?

The 'Genius Zone,' a concept by Gay Hendricks, represents the area where individuals operate at their highest potential and most natural talents. For B2B leaders, unlocking this for their organization means actively steering their team away from comfort zones. This can be achieved by asking probing questions that challenge assumptions, encourage growth, and help team members recognize their unique strengths and contributions, ultimately boosting overall team performance and innovation in B2B strategies.

What strategies do successful B2B CEOs like Chedva Kleinhandler use to empower their teams?

Successful B2B CEOs like Chedva Kleinhandler empower their teams by acknowledging the normalcy of self-doubt while providing clear pathways for growth. Chedva emphasizes the power of asking the right questions to challenge team members, guide them out of their comfort zones, and help them identify and leverage their inherent strengths. This approach fosters an environment where individuals can internalize their successes and operate within their 'Genius Zone,' leading to higher engagement and performance in B2B operations.

Why is asking the right questions more crucial than having all the answers for B2B leaders?

For B2B leaders, especially in rapidly evolving markets, asking the right questions is far more crucial than possessing all the answers. As discussed by Chedva Kleinhandler, strategic questioning empowers teams to think critically, innovate, and discover solutions themselves. This approach not only helps team members overcome self-doubt and access their 'Genius Zone' but also cultivates a culture of independent problem-solving and proactive growth, essential for navigating complex B2B challenges and market shifts.

How does an unconventional career path benefit a B2B marketing leader's perspective?

An unconventional career path, like Chedva Kleinhandler's journey from translator to award-winning serial founder, significantly enriches a B2B marketing leader's perspective. Such diverse experiences cultivate resilience, adaptability, and unique problem-solving approaches, which are invaluable in the dynamic B2B landscape. Leaders with varied backgrounds often bring fresh insights into market dynamics, team motivation, and innovative strategies, enabling them to tackle challenges like imposter syndrome and inspire their teams to think outside traditional frameworks.

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