Mantle of the Expert – Child’s Play or Career Power Tool?

You don’t have to feel like an expert to act like one.

If you’ve ever stood in a meeting, heart pounding, waiting for someone to realise you don’t belong… well, hello, Imposter Syndrome. It shows up in smart, capable women at all stages of life and career, especially when we’ve hit a plateau. You’ve had great feedback, glowing PDRs and yet something’s still not clicking. You’re not moving forward, and confidence is slowly draining away.

What if I told you the answer might lie in a drama technique you probably haven’t thought about since primary school?

Let me reintroduce you to Mantle of the Expert.

What is Mantle of the Expert?

Originally created by educational pioneer Dorothy Heathcote, Mantle of the Expert places learners in a fictional role of expertise – as archaeologists, scientists, detectives and so on - giving them real-world responsibility within an imaginative context. It’s drama for learning, but with a powerful psychological twist because children act as if they’re the expert. And importantly, they rise to it.

They don’t wait to be perfect. They step in and grow into it. During my time as a teacher, I had classrooms filled to the brim with expert scientists, explorers, professors, historians and even MPs!

“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

What’s the psychology behind this?

Psychologically, it taps into a well-known concept, “act as if.” This approach comes from cognitive behavioural theory whereby if you act in a confident way, even when you don’t feel it, your brain begins to rewire. Over time, behaviour shifts belief.

Neuroscience backs this up too. Mirror neurons in the brain respond to behaviours and emotions we model, even when they’re not yet fully “real.” It’s the same reason why faking a smile can genuinely lift your mood (try it!).

In a Mantle of the Expert mindset, you’re borrowing the identity of the expert, and through action, making it your own. It allows you to bypass the paralysis of “I’m not ready” and instead builds a bridge toward confidence and competence.

This is especially powerful for women navigating mid-career pivots, return from maternity, redundancy, or stepping into leadership. You might be receiving great external feedback, but internally you’re stuck on repeat with "They’ve got the wrong person."

Mantle of the Expert helps you flip the script.

Where and how can you use it?

Mantle of the Expert is useful when:

• You’ve hit a career plateau: feedback is strong, but your inner confidence hasn’t caught up.

• You’re stepping into leadership and want to project clarity and control, even when it feels wobbly inside.

• You’re returning to work or changing direction, and your self-belief hasn’t quite found its footing.

• You’re asked to speak, lead, present, or be visible, but Imposter Syndrome is loud in your ear.

Rather than waiting to feel ready,  you adopt the stance of readiness, and build the feelings through action.

What gets in the way?

The biggest blocker? Mindset.

“I’m not qualified.”

“I don’t know enough.”

“I need one more course, one more qualification.”

This is classic fixed mindset territory. Carol Dweck’s work on growth mindset reminds us that ability is not static, it’s actually cultivated. By taking on the mantle, you're committing to learning, evolving, becoming. It’s not pretending, it’s practicing.

Try this: Mantle in Action

1. Visualise your expert self.

   Who is she? What does she wear, say, do? Step into her shoes mentally before that meeting, interview or presentation.

2. Use powerful language.

   Speak from knowledge and experience. “I know from working with…” rather than “I think maybe…”

3. Act the part.

   Sit tall. Speak clearly. Say yes. You’re not faking, you’re simply becoming.

Final Thoughts

This isn’t about putting on a mask or being inauthentic, or indeed falsely claiming to be an expert in a field where qualifications matter. It’s about recognising your potential and letting action lead belief. Like children solving mysteries in the classroom, we can step into the mantle of our own expertise, even if we don’t feel quite ready. And remember, the expert isn’t someone out there. She’s you (just one brace step ahead).

If this blog resonated with you and you're ready to take that next step, whether it's stepping into your own Mantle of the Expert or finding clarity in your career, I'd love to support you. You can connect with me over on Instagram or LinkedIn, or simply drop me an email at hello@kateoatleycoaching.com. Let’s explore what’s possible, together.