Moving Through Self-Doubt: Practical Tools for Building Confidence from PMA's Webinar

Nearly 30 PMA members came together on June 23 for a practical and engaging conversation about a topic many professionals experience but may not always name: imposter syndrome.

Led by Felicia Queen, Founder, PWRHSE Companies, the webinar focused on recognizing self-doubt, understanding why it happens and learning how to move through it with greater confidence. Felicia brought decades of multifamily experience, personal perspective and practical tools to the conversation, creating a session that was both relatable and actionable.

Imposter Syndrome Is Common — Even for Experienced Leaders

Felicia opened the session by sharing a personal story from early in her consulting career. Even after years of success, strong results and clear evidence that she knew what she was doing, she remembered walking into a new client’s office and suddenly wondering, “What if they find out I don’t know what I’m doing?”

That moment became a starting point for a larger conversation about imposter syndrome and self-doubt. One of Felicia’s key reminders was that confidence does not mean self-doubt disappears completely. Instead, confidence grows when we learn how to recognize those thoughts, work through them and keep moving forward anyway.

She emphasized that imposter syndrome can show up at any career stage. Whether someone is new to the industry, stepping into leadership, taking on a bigger role or simply speaking up in a meeting, self-doubt can appear even when the person is capable and prepared.

Confidence Is About Contribution

A powerful theme throughout the webinar was that confidence is not just about feeling good about yourself. It is also about contributing.

Felicia encouraged attendees to think about what happens when people hold back. Good ideas may not get shared. Promotions may not be pursued. Problems may not be addressed. Teams, residents, clients and companies may miss out on the insight someone could have offered.

Using examples from property management, Felicia explained that every person brings a unique perspective to the table. When someone speaks up, offers an idea or takes action despite uncertainty, the impact often extends far beyond that individual.

The message was clear: building confidence is not selfish. It allows people to contribute more fully to their teams, organizations and communities.

Understanding the Brain’s Response to Fear

Felicia also introduced attendees to the science behind self-doubt. She explained that the brain is designed to keep us safe. When it detects discomfort or threat, the amygdala can take over, making it difficult to access the logical, problem-solving part of the brain.

That is why simply trying to “think your way out” of self-doubt does not always work in the moment. When fear, embarrassment, uncertainty or anxiety is activated, the brain may not be ready for logic yet.

To help attendees move from reaction to reflection, Felicia shared a practical exercise:

• Say “stop” out loud as a pattern interrupt.
• Name the feeling: fear, doubt, embarrassment, anxiety or uncertainty.
• Separate yourself from the feeling by saying, “This feeling is…”
• Ask what the feeling is trying to do for you.
• Thank the feeling for trying to keep you safe.
• Then check the facts.

This process helps create enough distance from the emotion to allow the logical part of the brain to re-engage. Felicia also noted that breathing techniques, such as box breathing, can help calm the nervous system and support clearer thinking.

Preparation Builds Real Confidence

The session also explored the difference between imposter syndrome and being “legitimately not ready.”

Felicia reminded attendees that sometimes a lack of confidence is not a sign of imposter syndrome. Sometimes it is a signal that more preparation is needed. That preparation might include reviewing information, practicing a conversation, role-playing a difficult discussion or making sure the right facts and numbers are available before a meeting.

In property management, this can be especially important when communicating with owners, asset managers, clients or team members. Being prepared helps professionals advocate more effectively, answer questions with confidence and make stronger recommendations.

The takeaway was not that people need to know everything before they act. Instead, preparation gives people a stronger foundation so they can move forward with clarity.

Staying Connected to Your Future Self

Felicia closed the session by encouraging attendees to think about their future selves.

She shared the idea of writing a letter from your future self to your current self. Rather than writing a goal list, this exercise invites participants to imagine that it is one year in the future and describe what life looks like because they took action, spoke up, pursued the opportunity or made the change.

The exercise is meant to be emotional and specific. What changed? What opportunities opened up? Who benefited? What became possible because you moved forward instead of staying stuck?

By connecting current choices to future outcomes, professionals can strengthen their motivation and make decisions that support the person they are working to become.

Moving Forward With Greater Confidence

Throughout the webinar, Felicia reminded attendees that confidence is a practice. It grows through preparation, self-awareness, courage and repetition.

For those who attended, the session offered both reassurance and practical tools: self-doubt is normal, but it does not have to be in charge. By naming the feeling, checking the facts, preparing intentionally and staying connected to future goals, professionals can move through imposter syndrome and show up more fully in their careers.

Most importantly, the webinar reinforced that confidence is not about never feeling uncertain. It is about learning how to act with purpose even when uncertainty is present — and recognizing that your voice, ideas and contributions matter.