One in five SME owners experience 'imposter syndrome'

clock • 2 min read

Procrastination and opportunity avoidance key symptoms, limiting growth and business development

One in five small-to-medium business owners suffer from a feelings of inadequacy, failure or even fears of being exposed as a fraud, an AXA PPP study has revealed. Nearly half of SME owners suffering from imposter syndrome, the umbrella term used to describe such feelings, also believe that someone else can run their business more effectively. These sentiments can have a direct impact on business performance within SMEs, with a large proportion of sufferers acknowledging procrastination and opportunity avoidance as key symptoms, limiting growth and business development. Pervasive p...

To continue reading this article...

Join COVER for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, key trend analysis and industry insights.
  • Stay on top of the latest developments around health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and the cost of living crisis.
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletter.
  • Members only access to monthly programme 'The COVER Review'
  • Be the first to hear about our CPD accredited events and awards programmes.

Join now

 

Already a Cover member?

Login

More on Employee Benefits

Benenden Health adds at-home health testing service

Benenden Health adds at-home health testing service

Targeted testing options on specific concerns

Jaskeet Briah
clock 18 August 2026 • 1 min read
Epassi appoints Antonio Barradas to expand growth

Epassi appoints Antonio Barradas to expand growth

Responsible for UK operations and Zest

Jaskeet Briah
clock 13 August 2026 • 1 min read
New principal international consultant for Everywhen

New principal international consultant for Everywhen

Hannah Parry takes the role

Cameron Roberts
clock 12 August 2026 • 1 min read