Why Being Busy Feeds Into Your Impostor Syndrome
How Much Do You Cram Into Your Day?
Take a look at your calendar. How many meetings, calls, and projects are packed into your schedule?
How often do you find yourself multitasking, jumping from one task to another, trying to stay ahead?
If you’re constantly moving but never feel like you’re making real progress, you’re not alone. Many executives and marketing leaders mistake activity for productivity, but this obsession with busyness often feeds into a deeper problem—impostor syndrome.
The Busyness-Productivity Fallacy
Being busy feels good. It creates a sense of accomplishment, makes us feel needed, and keeps us from confronting uncertainty. But research tells a different story. Constant task-switching reduces productivity by as much as 40% because our brains struggle to regain focus after every interruption (Forbes).
Busyness is often a defense mechanism. When we don’t have a clear plan or feel unsure about our decisions, we compensate by doing more—even when those extra tasks don’t move the needle. This creates a cycle where busyness becomes the goal instead of real progress.
Why Busyness Fuels Impostor Syndrome
Impostor syndrome—the feeling that you’re not truly as capable as others think—affects even the most successful leaders.
A Korn Ferry study found that 71% of U.S. CEOs have experienced impostor syndrome, and a KPMG survey revealed that 75% of female executives have faced it.
One of the ways people mask these feelings is by overworking. They fill their schedules to the brim so they don’t have to stop and question whether they’re focusing on the right things.
But instead of boosting confidence, this cycle reinforces self-doubt. If you’re always chasing the next urgent task, it’s hard to feel like you’re in control of your strategy or that your work is truly making an impact.
The Pitfalls of “Random Acts of Marketing”
For marketing professionals, this manifests as random acts of marketing—reactive, one-off initiatives that aren’t tied to a larger strategy.
These might look like:
- Launching a campaign just because a competitor did.
- Running promotions or creating content without a clear objective.
- Chasing the latest trend without considering long-term brand impact.
52% of marketers struggle with last-minute, unplanned marketing requests (Forbes).
These distractions drain resources, frustrate teams, and dilute performance, all while making marketing leaders feel like they’re spinning their wheels.
The Antidote: How We Help Clients Escape the Busyness Trap
At eyeBrand, we work with executives and teams who feel stuck on the hamster wheel—always moving but never feeling confident in their marketing.
We help them step back and help them build a strategy that creates clarity, alignment, and confidence.
Here’s how:
- Facilitated Strategic Discussions – We don’t hand clients a pre-built strategy; we guide them in creating their own. We help leaders and teams align marketing efforts with their purpose, calling, and business goals, so every action is intentional.
- Providing a Clear Roadmap – A structured plan eliminates decision fatigue and the need to constantly “do more.” Instead of reacting, leaders execute with clarity and focus.
- Avoiding the Impostor Syndrome Trap – When leaders have a well-defined plan, they stop second-guessing themselves. Confidence comes not from doing more but from knowing what to focus on.
Does This Sound Like You?
Practical Steps You Can Take Right Now
If you’re caught in the busyness cycle, here are a few things you can do today to start shifting toward meaningful productivity:
- Prioritize What Actually Moves the Needle – Audit your calendar and ask yourself: What tasks actually contribute to my long-term goals? Eliminate or delegate the ones that don’t.
- Set Boundaries – Protect your time by saying no to distractions, unproductive meetings, and reactive projects.
- Build in Reflection Time – Block time to assess what’s working and ensure your actions are aligned with your larger goals.
- Leverage the Right Resources – Here are some helpful books and guides on escaping the busyness trap:
Conclusion: Strategy Creates Confidence
Impostor syndrome isn’t something you can fix overnight—it’s often deep-seated.
But having a clear, well-executed strategy can help reduce uncertainty and build confidence. When leaders stop chasing random tasks and start following a focused, strategic plan, they not only eliminate unnecessary stress but also see real, measurable impact.
If you’re tired of feeling like you have to prove yourself through endless activity, let’s talk about how we can help you create clarity—and finally step off the hamster wheel.Forbed
