Imposter syndrome refers to an individual’s fear of being exposed as a “fraud.” The term was coined in 1978 by clinical psychologists Pauline R. Clance and Suzanne A. Imes who found that high-achieving women were plagued with feelings of intellectual fraudulence and inauthenticity.

• Unfounded belief that you're not qualified to do your job.
• Fear of being “found out” and unmasked as an unqualified business person.
• Feel like it was just luck or timing that led you to where you are.
• Fear of being found out as incompetent.
• A belief that you're an imposter and not the business owner or business professional you should be.
• Feeling like a fraud.
• Efforts are based on fear of failure rather than driven by a passion for success.

https://www.agencymavericks.com/5-steps-to-overcome-imposter-syndrome/

How it can show itself in your business/agency

Imposter Syndrome can lead to all sorts of problems at your agency. For example:

• Under-charging during the sales process
• Over-servicing clients
• Hiring the wrong people
• Sticking with poor-fit clients too long
• Feeling too much stress from being too hard on yourself

Signs of IS

• Desire to be the best.
• Perfectionistic tendency.
• Fear of failure.
• Discounting praise as invalid.
• Guilt and fear about success.
• Concern about maintaining performance.
• A lack of happiness when successful.

https://www.business2community.com/leadership/imposter-syndrome-7-signs-you-have-it-and-5-tips-to-fix-it-02428873

Self-esteem is just the reputation you have with yourself.

1. You define yourself by your past.

2. You procrastinate on your passions.

3. You’re hypercritical of others.

4. You’re unwilling to enforce healthy boundaries.

5. You overthink minor decisions.

6. You rely on other people to feel better.

7. You struggle to take compliments.

https://nickwignall.medium.com/7-signs-of-low-self-esteem-89ff35df0fa