Your SaaS business is growing fast, you believe in what you're doing, you're passionate. It's exciting but there's so many challenges.

• But how did you end up at the helm?
• How on earth did you convince people to invest so much when you aren't totally clear of the path ahead?
• Are you really the right person to lead it? And will you still be in a year's time?

In such a dynamic business and market, it's very easy to question yourself.

• Are you good enough to do the role?
• Will others perceive you as good enough?
• Will you succeed or fail?

It's quite common to suffer from the imposter syndrome… the fear that at some point, you'll get found out - that someone will realise you're actually not that good. And you're deepest fear is that you'll fail, perhaps for the first time in your career.

It's fear-generated
These fears have negative connotations. They generate worry and stress. They mean that you'll likely overwork and overprepare in attempt at proving yourself. You may compensate by taking too much on. You may find yourself talking too much in meetings or simply doing things for the wrong reasons.

Sadly, these strategies don't usually work. They exhaust you, and others can usually pick up your insecurity.

The story in your head
The key thing to realise is that the imposter syndrome is really not necessary. It's based on nothing more than your erroneous thoughts making up a story in your head. The story you're creating holds you back from fulfilling your potential in any moment. It's about 'just being you'. Being the authentic you is all you've got, it's what's helped you get this far, and it's the only thing you can rely on to take you and your business forward.

Little mind - big mind
In Buddhist terminology, negative thoughts are generated by your 'little mind' - they're thoughts that are usually illogical and unhelpful. And then there's your 'big mind', the greater power within you. That big mind when not encumbered by little mind, can just be whatever you need to be. Big mind has you operate naturally in flow, in a state where you can focus, be creative, be self-expressed and powerful.

When you're in big mind, you are your potential. When you're in big mind, it's highly likely you won't look like an imposter. It may be true that you haven’t proven yourself yet, it may be that your business still has lots to prove, it may be true that others are questioning you. But the key is to relax - trust the greater power within you, trust that you're in the role for a reason, and all there is to do is to be your authentic self. Simply be who you are and let the noise of your unhelpful thinking fade into the background.

A phonecall
If you experience the imposter ‘syndrome’ and want a little more help, we'll happily have a no-strings call to talk it through. We’ve helped hundreds of leaders like you with their thinking on topics like this. It's amazing what a transformational difference, a small shift in your thinking can make, on how you feel and how you operate.

Written by Martin Palethorpe, founder of The Pragma Group.