Welcome back to the Look and Sound of Leadership.

An ongoing series of executive coaching tips designed to help you be perceived in the workplace the way you want to be perceived. I'm Tom Henschel, your executive coach,

and today we're talking about coaching versus therapy. Anastasia felt like a fraud.

She had landed a position that was five times greater in scope and responsibility

than any she had held before.

During our first coaching conversation,

she told me,

you know, everything's been fine on the job so far.

But I'm walking on needles.

I can feel it in my gut.

And I'm worried I'm gonna get found out. That you're a fraud? I asked.

That I'm over my head.

Yeah, she said.

Is it true? I asked.

Are you over your head?

She started to blurt an answer and then stopped.

She thought a second and then stopped.

She thought a second and then said sincerely, no, I know what I'm doing.

But damn, it sure doesn't feel that way.

Is that part of you familiar?

I asked. You mean, have I felt like a fraud before? Oh yeah, but never like this. I am losing sleep over this. I asked when it's happened before what happens to that feeling of being a fraud does it go away

Thank God. Yes, she said I don't feel this way all the time

...