Kris Kelso highlights book, Overcoming the Imposter

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Kris Kelso, Leadership Coach, Keynote Speaker and Author of "Overcoming the Imposter: Silence Your Inner Critic and Lead with Confidence," who shares his background as an entrepreneur and leadership coach, discussing how his experience with imposter syndrome led him to study and share insights on the topic through writing and speaking engagements. He emphasizes his opposition to the "fake it till you make it" mindset and advocates for an authentic approach to learning and growth, which he refers to as "humble confidence." Kris shares a recap with some of the takeaways from his recent keynote presentation at the cityCURRENT signature speaker series event in Nashville. The conversation concludes with Kris discussing his current projects, including learning stand-up comedy to enhance his professional speaking, while Jeremy expresses gratitude for Kris's contributions to cityCURRENT. Summary Overcoming Imposter Syndrome as Entrepreneurs - Kris Kelso shares his background as an entrepreneur and leadership coach, highlighting his journey from running IT and healthcare technology companies to focusing on executive coaching and professional speaking. He explains how his experience with imposter syndrome, which began during his first business venture, led him to study and understand the phenomenon. Kris discovered that imposter syndrome is more prevalent among high achievers and found that his insights and techniques for addressing it were valuable to others, leading to a viral article and eventually a book and keynote speech on the topic. Humble Confidence in Learning - Kris discusses his opposition to the "fake it till you make it" mindset, advocating instead for an authentic approach to learning and growth, which he refers to as "humble confidence." He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging when one doesn't know something and using that as an opportunity to seek help and learn, rather than pretending to be an expert. Jeremy agrees with Kris's perspective, highlighting the role of authenticity and relationships in personal and professional development. Kris shares a habit to foster humble confidence: acknowledging when one doesn't know something and offering to find solutions or gather expertise, which helps maintain authenticity and invites support. Coaching for Client Self-Discovery - Kris shares his experience as an entrepreneur and coach, emphasizing the importance of asking questions and suspending judgment to help clients explore and grow. He highlights that coaching involves guiding clients to find their own answers rather than providing them directly, and this approach has been valuable in his business life. Kris stresses the importance of acknowledging that there is always more to learn and new perspectives to consider, which keeps him in an "explorer mode." Enhancing Teamwork and Personal Growth - Jeremy and Kris discuss the importance of surrounding oneself with knowledgeable people to enhance teamwork and organizational success. Kris shares his approach to writing, emphasizing that his latest book was a compelled project rather than a planned one, and he expresses a willingness to write another book only when he has a unique perspective to offer. Kris also mentions his current goal of improving his humor in speeches and content, which he has been working on with a professional stand-up comedian. Kris's Keynote Insights - Kris discusses his experience with stand-up comedy and his newfound respect for professional comedians. He mentions his popular keynotes on imposter syndrome and humble confidence, which he has adapted from a TEDx talk into a full-length presentation. Kris also shares that he offers workshops on topics such as delegation and building trust in the workplace. Book Details and Contact Exchange - Kris shares his contact information and book details with Jeremy, noting that his book "Overcoming the Imposter" can be found at major bookstores and online platforms. He highlights that the book's website offers a free sample chapter, specifically Chapter 7, which discusses the explorer mentality and contrasts it with the tour guide mindset. Jeremy expresses gratitude for Kris's contributions to cityCURRENT and the recent signature speaker series event in Nashville. Visit https://www.kriskelso.com to learn more and connect with Kris Kelso.