Outsmarting Imposter Syndrome
"imposter syndrome"
psychological experience
A collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success.
(Harvard Business Review, 2008).
Let's talk about it. Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon in which one doubts their talents, abilities, accomplishments, or accolades. Essentially, feeling like a fraud. However, the key part about this phenomenon, is that it's based on no real grounds or facts. It's normal to experience self-doubt in life, but when it comes to the point where this doubt is discouraging you from taking steps forward or undermining your ability to celebrate your incredible wins, it's time to make a change.
With that, here are five tips to help cope in times when you may fall into a trap of self-doubt, without any real justification or reason.
Write it down.
Writing something out on paper makes it much easier to recognize unnecessary negative self-talk and criticism. If we can recognize it, we can catch it, and change the way that we speak to ourselves in a more positive and empowering way. We often don’t realize how hard we can be on ourselves when words aren't spoken aloud.
Recognize hard work.
Make a list of the steps it took to get where you are, read it back, and congratulate yourself for all the little victories you’ve accomplished up to this point. You deserve some credit. Imposter thoughts only shed light on the negative, and we can sometimes look past the wins.
Lay out the facts.
Rather than focusing on the doubts you have, focus on what you DO have going for you. What makes you qualified for the job you have? What experiences in your life have prepared you to handle the challenges you may be facing? Make a list for yourself to refer back to in times when imposter thoughts may creep in.
Speak with a mentor.
Sometimes getting an objective point of view can help bring your thoughts back into a more reasonable perspective. I know when I'm in my own head for too long, I can come up with some pretty unrealistic fears. A strong mentor will more than likely be able to relate to the feelings and doubts you're experiencing and can help provide guidance or advice for how to cope and move past it.
Know you're not alone.
Imposter syndrome is something so common, especially given the prevalence of social media and the comparison it breeds. Self-doubt is a normal human experience and is often something that has to be regularly coped with. But this doesn't mean that your success is compromised - countless successful people have built amazing careers despite facing imposter syndrome. And if I haven't convinced you myself, check out some articles from Forbes, New York Times, and Harvard Business Review on overcoming it.
I hope this helps anyone who might be feeling this way right now, not just career-wise but in any aspect of life - you are not alone and you’ve got this.
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