Latest news with #AriannaHuffington
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
‘Imposter Syndrome': 4 Ways To Turn It Into A Career Asset
A body of literature focuses on how to tackle and overcome imposter syndrome, but now experts are ... More showing how you can harness this feeling into boosting your job performance. On a cold, January day, Margo was having an anxiety attack in my office, afraid she would fail in the highly competitive real estate job she had worked day and night for several years. The paradox was she had just received an award and a bonus for top million-dollar salesperson in her company. Yet, she believed it was only a matter of time before her incompetence was revealed and she would lose her job. Margo was suffering from imposter syndrome--the chronic fear of being exposed as a fraud and that others think you're more capable and competent than you are. 'At first, I felt good about it," Margo told me, 'but that only lasted for about twenty minutes. Then I realized it was a fluke, and I'll never be able to pull it off again. I feel like I've pulled the wool over everybody's eyes.' Margo isn't alone, and neither are you if you feel like an imposter. Some of the most accomplished personalities on the planet have struggled with self-doubt. Journalist Jeff Jarvis said, 'Like most other creatives, I struggle with self-sabotage, self-doubt and feeling like an impostor more often than not.' Arianna Huffington, founder of Thrive Global, has written about her experience with imposter syndrome."I was convinced that at any moment, the jig would be up, and I would be unmasked as a fraud," she remarks. "It didn't matter how much success I had achieved or how much positive feedback I received--the feeling persisted." And when Jane Fonda won her second Oscar, she told a talk show host she felt like a phony and feared the Academy would find out how talent-less she was and take the award back. Ryne Sherman of Hogan Assessments told me that approximately 75 to 85% of working adults report feelings of imposter syndrome. Even American author and poet Maya Angelou lamented,'I've run a game on everybody, and they're going to find me out.' Other well-known people like actor Tom Hanks and former First Lady Michelle Obama have also spoken publicly about feeling like an impostor. Imposter syndrome seems to afflict high-performing people and women more than men. Most people who feel like imposters report a nagging voice in their heads that clouds their vision from internalizing success, afraid they might slack off and ultimately flop. So the voice says you have to work harder. Distorted thoughts can make you feel like an impostor, as if you've been able to fool people that you're competent, even though you're not convinced yourself. You think if they knew the truth, you'd be discovered for the fake you are. Most people think of imposter syndrome as a problem to fix, and there's a body of literature on how to overcome or tackle imposter syndrome. But now experts are taking a second look, making a turnaround after research shows that it can be a competitive advantage, especially in leadership roles. Recently, in her Yale commencement address, Dame Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, opened up about experiencing imposter syndrome—even while leading a nation through crisis. Her message was powerful: traits like self-doubt and sensitivity, often perceived as weaknesses, can be essential leadership strengths. 'Imposter syndrome is frequently associated with outcomes most people view as negative: low self-esteem, indecisiveness and fear,' according to Sherman, but he suggests that there are also four surprisingly positive benefits of experiencing imposter thoughts: 1. If you have thoughts of self-doubt or inadequacy, you're more likely to show up as more motivated and having a stronger work ethic than your peers. 'The psychodynamic theorist Alfred Adler noted that fear of failure significantly impacts an individual's motivation, though, as a therapist Adler tried to help his patients overcome fear of failure by developing self-worth,' he explains. 2. If you experience imposter syndrome, you're also likely to become more other-focused versus self-focused. 'When we doubt ourselves, we look to others for feedback about our performance and reassurance,' he points out. 'Such other-focus creates stronger awareness of the reputation we are creating in the eyes of others, rather than on our own self-proclaimed (and potentially wrong) identity." 3. Imposter syndrome is linked to increased interpersonal skill. 'Listening and being attuned to others' emotions is a quintessential feature of emotional intelligence and empathy,' Sherman states. 'Thus, those with imposter syndrome are often skilled at building relationships.' 4. If you have imposter syndrome, you're far less likely to fall into the traps of arrogance and overconfidence. Sherman emphasizes that leaders who are overconfident in their abilities often take on more than can be accomplished, fail to deliver on expectations, take on unnecessary risks and place the blame for failure on others. "Leaders who have some degree of self-doubt are more likely to be viewed as humble and responsible, even if their lack of self-confidence hampers their potential." Michael Sanger, director of assessment solutions for Leadership Development Worldwide at Hogan Assessments declares that imposter syndrome can actually improve your performance, if you're willing to re-frame your perspective. 'Imposter syndrome often signals your willingness to push boundaries because you're stretching yourself outside your comfort zone, so to try to appreciate this as your natural response,' he advises. Positive affirmations are antidotes to imposter syndrome that act as 'cognitive expanders' that help you see the truth about yourself and fuel your performance. They reduce your brain's tunnel vision, broadening your perspective so you can step back from a career challenge, see the big picture of your accomplishments and brainstorm a wide range of possibilities, solutions and opportunities. Another antidote, self-compassion, fuels your job performance and achievement and offsets the self-judgment of the imposter syndrome thoughts. When you're kind toward yourself and accept career letdowns with compassion, you deal only with the stressful experience, not the added negative feelings from your self-judgment that says you're a fraud.
Buzz Feed
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Buzz Feed
HuffPost Celebrates 20 Years Of Groundbreaking Digital-First Journalism
New York, NY – May 9, 2025 – Today, HuffPost, the award-winning online news organization steeped in fair and fearless reporting, proudly celebrates its 20th anniversary as a groundbreaking digital-first site. Founded in 2005 as The Huffington Post, the platform has grown from a pioneering blog-based news site into a must-read global voice for news, politics, culture, and personal stories. Launched in New York City by Arianna Huffington, Jonah Peretti, Kenneth Lerer, and a team of forward-thinking journalists and technologists, HuffPost helped usher in a new era of digital-first journalism. From its earliest days, the site disrupted the traditional media landscape by centering internet-native content, elevating underrepresented voices, and creating a space for community engagement across a wide range of topics. Over the past two decades, HuffPost has received widespread recognition for its editorial excellence and impact, including a Pulitzer Prize for national reporting, The National Magazine Award, numerous Webby Awards, and honors from GLAAD and many other journalism and advocacy organizations. With millions of loyal readers, HuffPost continues to play a vital role in helping people make sense of the world and live better lives. 'For 20 years, HuffPost has relentlessly covered the most important, most compelling stories and offered our audience a loud, direct and honest perspective they can't find anywhere else,' said Whitney Snyder, Editor-in-Chief of HuffPost. 'At a time when America's free press and cherished institutions are under attack, we are proud to celebrate our anniversary and are committed to the next 20 years of indispensable, independent reporting.' Updated HuffPost Logo To commemorate this milestone, HuffPost is unveiling a refreshed logo and visual identity to reflect the site's fair and fearless reporting since 2005. The updated logo includes white HuffPost text on a darker green background with pink accent colors, with an 'H' logo thumbnail. The branding is a nod to HuffPost's original roots, with darker green, and what the organization stands for: being bold, fearless, and grounded in truth. HuffPost Helps Day As part of HuffPost's 20th anniversary, HuffPost is holding the first HuffPost Helps Day on May 9th. A day of community service in New York, California, Washington, DC, and in towns and cities across the country, HuffPost Helps Day will mobilize HuffPost staffers to volunteer in their communities and participate in service activities at local food banks, shelters, animal rescues and meal delivery nonprofits on May 9th and throughout the month. HuffPost writers chronicled the most iconic and notable moments in HuffPost's 20 year history – from the site's outspoken support for gay marriage in 2006 to BuzzFeed's acquisition of HuffPost in 2021. This oral history charts HuffPost's journey through two decades of defining headlines and fearless homepage splashes, featuring candid recollections from founders, editors and writers about the stories that shaped the site and how they transformed digital journalism.
Forbes
18-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Why Today's Leaders Must Prioritize Mental Health—Theirs And Yours
What should companies do to improve their employees' mental health? And why will that improve their company's productivity? In the U.S., stress-related absenteeism attributed to loneliness costs employers an estimated $154 billion annually. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one-third of adults report feeling lonely. There is an epidemic of loneliness in the U.S., and lacking connection can increase the risk for premature death to levels comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, according to a new advisory from the Surgeon General. Companies Should Help Employees Reduce Stress and Eliminate Burnout Arianna Huffington, Thrive Global Founder Thrive Global Arianna Huffington, Huffington Post co-founder, author of 15 books, on Time magazine's list of the world's 100 most influential people and Forbes Most Powerful Women list, founded Thrive Global in 2016. It helps companies reduce stress and improve productivity through wellness strategies. Its goal is to provide a wake-up call to change the way we work and live. Arianna says, 'Creating the culture of burnout is opposite to creating a culture of sustainable creativity. This is something that needs to be taught in business schools.' She explains, 'We're working to change the culture of companies and society at large, because we are all facing this delusion that burnout is the price you must pay for success. If you take care of your mind, you take care of the world.' The Importance of Creating Healthy Boundaries FinTech growth strategist Samantha Paxson is the founder and lead investor of Power & Light Collaborative. She says the most powerful thing a leader can do today is model "wholeness"— not just performance. 'Workers today are struggling with burnout, navigating complexity, and trying to balance hyper-connectivity with mental well-being." Samantha explains, " I have learned that healthy boundaries are guardians of our wholeness. Far from being barriers to connection, boundaries enable deeper, more sustainable relationships by clearly communicating our needs and limits.' Ending the Epidemic of Loneliness Jessica Zemple is the founder of Life Shucker and producer of Cracked – A short documentary breaking stigmas around mental health. She told me, 'One of the most common challenges leaders bring to me is loneliness. Despite being surrounded by people, many feel deeply isolated. They tell me they can't be vulnerable with their teams, afraid that showing emotion or uncertainty will be seen as weakness. Over time, this disconnect strips away their humanity. They begin to operate more like robots than real people.' Jessica adds, 'The truth is, leadership doesn't require perfection—it requires connection. And when we create space to lead with both courage and vulnerability, we don't just become better leaders—we become more whole humans.' Jessica explained, 'We are facing a connection crisis. We are disconnected from nature, each other, and ourselves. How can we truly be happy without connection? Because when we remember how to really connect — we don't just survive…We come alive.' The Importance of Protecting Your Mental Health In talks around the country, Jessica tells people, 'Your mental health is the most precious wealth you can have. Protect it like it is. Say no. Set boundaries. Ask for help. Slow down. Reconnect. When we're constantly busy, we end up living life by default —reacting to what comes our way — instead of living by design, guided by intention and meaning. No wonder so many people feel unfulfilled. It is time to slow down to truly hear yourself and go in that direction.' Best Practices For All Companies These are some of the solutions for companies to implement that catalysts for change in this arena like Arianna, Samantha, and Jessica find are extremely helpful: Demonstrate healthy behaviors from the top. Respect boundaries with no e-mail, slack messages, or texts outside of business hours unless truly urgent. Take mental health days and talk about it. Be vulnerable. Without oversharing, speak about your own challenges or growth. Design for connection by rethinking meetings, team events, and physical space to facilitate authentic connection. Promote No Meeting Days to give people space to think and to be. Encourage walking meetings, lunch away from the desk, and taking a real vacation. Praise presence, not just performance. Reinforce that asking for help is a strength, as opposed to a weakness. Lead with humility. It's important for leadership to demonstrate to others that they value mental health; that they want to create a space where everyone feels safe expressing vulnerability; and that they want their employees to know they are valued. People can be lonely even if they are busy. Secure, confident, respected, appreciated employees are not only happier people, they are also more productive.
Fast Company
11-05-2025
- Health
- Fast Company
Arianna Huffington's advice for unlocking your creative potential
Arianna Huffington, author, entrepreneur, and founder of The Huffington Post believes in one key to success above all else: getting enough sleep. 'When I get eight hours, I feel ready to handle anything during the day without stress and without paying a heavy price in terms of my own health and my own mental well-being,' Huffington, the author of The Sleep Revolution, told NBC. Here's how sleep can lead to greater success and happiness for you: Huffington's Personal Journey With Sleep Back in 2007, Huffington was constantly sacrificing sleep to work 18-hour days. Then, one morning, she woke up on the floor of her home office in a pool of her own blood. She'd passed out from exhaustion, breaking her cheekbone when she fell. It was a pivotal moment that reshaped her views on success and well-being. Rather than measuring success in just money or power, Huffington now advocates for a ' third metric ' of success, which includes well-being, wisdom, and giving back. She's since written two books on the subjects and founded a new company, Thrive Global, which helps employers improve their workers' lives. Why is Sleep Essential for Success? In her viral TED talk, Huffington discussed how sleep allows us to shut down our engines, refresh our brains, and go into every day operating at peak performance, which is foundational for productivity, creativity, and decision-making. Science backs Huffington's views. For example, one study showed that new neural connections—the pathways between neurons that allow our brains to function—are formed while sleeping. It also showed better performance outcomes from sleeping and training together rather than training more in place of sleep. Studies have also linked inadequate sleep (whether that's extreme deprivation over a short period or slight deprivation over the long term) to worse reasoning, decision-making, and driving abilities, as well as mood swings, depression, and physical ailments like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Arianna Huffington's Top Tips for Better Sleep Alongside championing the importance of sleep, Huffington has put out tons of advice on how to get enough of it through The Sleep Revolution and her ' Sleep Revolution Manifesto.' 1. Create a bedtime ritual Doing the same routine before bed each night will help signal to your body and brain that it's almost time to sleep. Adding relaxing activities like a hot bath, a nice cup of decaffeinated tea, a good book, or a mediation session, will help even more. 2. Make your bedroom an ideal sleep space Huffington advocates for keeping your bedroom cool (between 60 and 67 degrees), dark, and quiet. If possible, keep your smartphone out of your bedroom (or at least out of reach) and reserve the room for sex and sleeping only. 3. Avoid caffeine and electronic devices before bed Huffington recommends cutting off caffeine around 2 p.m. and any electronic devices around 30 minutes before you lay down for the night. If you read in bed, use a traditional paper book or an e-reader without backlighting. 4. Wear dedicated pajamas—not workout gear Wearing the same clothes to exercise and to sleep sends your body mixed signals. 5. Treat sleep as nonnegotiable Rather than sacrificing sleep to spend time on other activities like work, social engagements, or recreational activities, Huffington says we should be doing the opposite. Schedule your life around getting enough sleep in the same way you plan sleep around your work schedule. The Link Between Sleep, Happiness, and Mental Health 'All the things that make life much harder are aggravated when you're sleep-deprived,' Huffington said on The School of Greatness podcast. You're more likely to dwell on your failures, fears, and anxieties or feel irritable and stressed. By contrast, when you sleep enough, your brain gets the recovery time it needs, you're more clear-headed, emotionally level, and able to handle the challenges your job or life might throw at you. You also increase your daily opportunities to experience joy, which can improve your relationships and work performance. Over time, all of these factors reduce your stress, make you more productive, and help you avoid burnout. Debunking the Myths of Around Sleep Work culture has a terrible tendency to glorify sleep deprivation. There's the ' hustle mentality ' that says one should always be grinding. There's also the 'sleep deprivation one-upmanship' where people brag about how little sleep they get. 'Today, so many of us fall into the trap of sacrificing sleep in the name of productivity,' Huffington said. But in the U.S., inadequate sleep actually leads to 11 days of lost productivity per year per worker, collectively costing the U.S. economy more than $63 billion annually. Prioritizing sleep is often associated with laziness, but making sure you begin every day at your full potential is actually a strategy for long-term success.
Business Wire
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Wire
HuffPost Celebrates 20 Years Of Groundbreaking Digital-First Journalism
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, HuffPost, the award-winning online news organization steeped in fair and fearless reporting, proudly celebrates its 20th anniversary as a groundbreaking digital-first site. Founded in 2005 as The Huffington Post, the platform has grown from a pioneering blog-based news site into a must-read global voice for news, politics, culture, and personal stories. Launched in New York City by Arianna Huffington, Jonah Peretti, Kenneth Lerer, and a team of forward-thinking journalists and technologists, HuffPost helped usher in a new era of digital-first journalism. From its earliest days, the site disrupted the traditional media landscape by centering internet-native content, elevating underrepresented voices, and creating a space for community engagement across a wide range of topics. Over the past two decades, HuffPost has received widespread recognition for its editorial excellence and impact, including a Pulitzer Prize for national reporting, The National Magazine Award, numerous Webby Awards, and honors from GLAAD and many other journalism and advocacy organizations. With millions of loyal readers, HuffPost continues to play a vital role in helping people make sense of the world and live better lives. 'For 20 years, HuffPost has relentlessly covered the most important, most compelling stories and offered our audience a loud, direct and honest perspective they can't find anywhere else,' said Whitney Snyder, Editor-in-Chief of HuffPost. 'At a time when America's free press and cherished institutions are under attack, we are proud to celebrate our anniversary and are committed to the next 20 years of indispensable, independent reporting.' Updated HuffPost Logo To commemorate this milestone, HuffPost is unveiling a refreshed logo and visual identity to reflect the site's fair and fearless reporting since 2005. The updated logo includes white HuffPost text on a darker green background with pink accent colors, with an 'H' logo thumbnail. The branding is a nod to HuffPost's original roots, with darker green, and what the organization stands for: being bold, fearless, and grounded in truth. HuffPost Helps Day As part of HuffPost's 20th anniversary, HuffPost is holding the first HuffPost Helps Day on May 9th. A day of community service in New York, California, Washington, DC, and in towns and cities across the country, HuffPost Helps Day will mobilize HuffPost staffers to volunteer in their communities and participate in service activities at local food banks, shelters, animal rescues and meal delivery nonprofits on May 9th and throughout the month. HuffPost's Most Iconic Moments HuffPost writers chronicled the most iconic and notable moments in HuffPost's 20 year history – from the site's outspoken support for gay marriage in 2006 to BuzzFeed's acquisition of HuffPost in 2021. An Oral History of HuffPost Splashes This oral history charts HuffPost's journey through two decades of defining headlines and fearless homepage splashes, featuring candid recollections from founders, editors and writers about the stories that shaped the site and how they transformed digital journalism. About HuffPost HuffPost is an award-winning news organization that publishes original journalism about real stories and real life, spanning politics, lifestyle, entertainment and more. HuffPost reaches an average of 60M monthly global readers to help them navigate the world and has won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize, The National Magazine Award, the GLAAD Award, and many others.
