Have you ever heard the term “people-pleasing”? According to Harriet B. Braiker, Ph.D., author of The Disease to Please,  people pleasers are not just nice people who go overboard trying to make everyone happy. Their uncontrollable need for approval from others is a debilitating defense mechanism.  In other words, it’s a survival strategy known as the fawn response—a subset of the freeze response.

In the fast-paced modern workplace, our drive for efficiency, productivity, and results often overshadows crucial elements like psychological safety, trust-building, and co-regulation. Ignoring these foundational pillars can erode our achievements and hinder our success.

Imposter syndrome and the freeze response are two phenomena that can significantly impact personal and professional success, often intertwining to create a cycle of self-doubt and inaction.