Confidence and Imposter Syndrome: LIHNN session in Manchester

Manchester, 12 November 2025

On a very wet Wednesday morning, 06:10am to be exact, I boarded the train to make the long journey from Blackpool North station into Manchester Piccadilly. The purpose? to attend the confidence and imposter syndrome session, with the help of facilitators Maria Grant and Lisa Jeskins, who promised enlightenment, empowerment, and – if all else failed – a decent PowerPoint presentation. Here is my experience of the day as I met with my fellow colleagues, descending upon the Friends Meeting House, armed with notepads, existential doubts, and a healthy dose of caffeine.

The Scene

After a horrendously delayed train journey (who do I even blame anymore?) I arrived at the venue. I took my seat and was pleasantly surprised to see familiar faces from MS Teams meetings, mingled with newcomers from across the northwest. I forgot all about the journey as I appreciated the fact that this was a face-to-face get together, a chance to confront something personal and an opportunity to network. The icebreaker? “Share your deepest insecurities with strangers!” (Okay, not quite, but close enough).

The session

First up: Confidence. Turns out, it’s not just the ability to wear mismatched socks with pride. It’s about acting despite uncertainty and believing in your own abilities.

Imposter Syndrome? That’s the sneaky feeling you’re a fraud, even when you’ve successfully catalogued 10,000 books and survived three hundred trust brief meetings. Apparently, it’s rampant in the NHS, lurking in the shadows like a misplaced overdue library book. Although we all seem to be quite good at hiding it.

The theory bit

We delved into Self-Determination Theory: autonomy, belonging, competence. In other words, the need to feel in control, to be part of the team, and to not accidentally delete the library website (not as far off from the truth as you might think). Practical examples abounded, from being entrusted with tasks, having a random team check-in, to surviving a training course on literature searching (Quantum librarianship).

Thinking Errors

Next, we tackled cognitive distortions. Ever mis-catalogued a book and assume you’ve doomed the entire library? That’s “magnification.” The cure? Seek evidence, reframe your inner monologue, and remember, even the best librarians occasionally shelve “101 ways to bake a cake” in the obstetrics and gynae section.

Mindfulness: Breathe In, Breathe Out…when is a bubble not a bubble?

It wouldn’t be a session about looking deeply into oneself without a mindfulness exercise. The goal: notice bodily sensations and emotions. Que a few minutes of silence, deep breathing and subtle glances around the room to see if anyone else had reached nirvana. Verdict? Relaxing, and a reminder to go to my yoga class next Sunday.

Strengths-Based Approaches: Find Your Inner Superhero

Facilitators encouraged us to identify strengths – realised and unrealised. For some, it was communication, for others, it was mastering the seemingly mystic art of literature searching. The takeaway? Focus on what you’re good at, and don’t be afraid to admit you’re still learning. But learn you must.

Reflection and Action: The Appraisal Olympics

We explored reflective tools with names like Hi/Lo Matrix and Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle. Translation: “What did you do? What went well? What didn’t? What did you learn? Will you do it again?” (Spoiler: Yes, probably.) The process felt suspiciously like an annual appraisal, but with more self-awareness and fewer spreadsheets.

Personal Highlights

Honest discussions, networking with fellow librarians, and the joy of face-to-face training (no talking whilst muted). Sharing personal beliefs with strangers felt odd at first, but once we all realised how much in common, we all had, I felt much closer to my colleagues by the end.

Key Takeaways

Confidence is about authenticity and living your values – even if those values include a being committed to telling a dad joke at least once a day

Imposter syndrome is common but can be tackled by challenging negative thoughts and connecting with others.

Reflection and action planning are essential for growth – so keep writing those weekly reflections, and don’t forget to celebrate your wins (big or small) and not magnify the mistakes.

In summary

The workshop proved that even the most seasoned librarians wrestle with confidence and imposter syndrome. But with a bit of reflection, a lot of humour, and the occasional mindfulness, we’re all a little braver – and a lot more connected – than we think. Was the session worth it? Yes, it was. Was it worth travelling by train? No, I shall explore teleportation next time.

Christopher Gupta

Digital Library Trainee at Blackpool NHS Trust