Practical sessions for organisations supporting professionals under pressure

Delivered for LEOs, Skillnet networks, and professional bodies.

This work focuses on how internal doubt affects decision-making, risk, and follow-through.

It’s not about performance. It’s about what it takes to maintain it.


Who it is for

  • Business owners delaying decisions they know need to be made
  • People undercharging or avoiding difficult pricing conversations
  • Professionals staying quiet in situations where they should be contributing
  • High performers relying on overwork to feel in control
  • Individuals considering stepping away from roles they are capable of doing

What participants leave with

  • Clear language for what they’ve been dealing with
  • Recognition of the patterns affecting their decisions
  • Understanding of Hidden Cognitive Strain and its cost
  • A practical way to pause before fear drives a decision

Session structure

1. Understanding Imposter Syndrome 

The three core traits and why they appear in capable, experienced people.

2. Coping Strategies 

Perfectionism, overworking, hiding, procrastination, deflecting, parachuting, peacocking. Named and described from the inside.

3. Hidden Cognitive Strain 

How these patterns build into a sustained mental load that affects decisions, energy, and engagement.

4. The Hidden Loop 

How thoughts, behaviours, and strain reinforce each other and influence decisions.

5. Business Impact 

Impact on pricing, opportunities, risk-taking, and engagement with supports.

6. Decision Stability 

A practical method for recognising fear-driven thinking and pausing before it affects a decision.


Format

  • In-person workshop: 3 to 3.5 hours 
  • Online workshop: 2 to 3 hours 
  • Talk or webinar: 60 to 75 minutes 
  • Group size: 12 to 20 participants 
  • Interactive — short teaching segments, discussion, practical exercises

Presenter

Jason McDaid 

Founder, The 78% Club. Senior fire engineer with over 13 years’ experience in high-stakes professional environments.

This work is grounded in direct experience of how Imposter Syndrome and Hidden Cognitive Strain affect decision-making in technical roles.

Delivered as a peer perspective, not theory.


Working with LEOs, Skillnet networks, and professional bodies

Designed to sit alongside existing programmes, not replace them.

The sessions address common patterns seen across clients:

  • delayed decisions
  • underpricing
  • avoidance of visibility
  • disengagement from supports

These are not capability issues. They are decision patterns.

The focus is helping participants recognise what’s driving those patterns and respond more directly.