The Imposter Within: Strategies for Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
What is impostor syndrome?
I remember walking to my car one day on my way to work. I was dressed in a suit, had my high heels on and was carrying my handbag. Nothing really out of the ordinary, except on this particular day I felt different. I remember distinctly feeling like I was wearing my mum’s clothes. Like I wasn’t really as experienced as people thought and that I wasn’t really capable to perform my job.
What I didn’t know at the time, is that’s called “imposter syndrome”, something that up to 70% of knowledge workers experience at some point of their career.
Technically speaking, Imposter Syndrome is a sense of self-doubt related to work accomplishments. You might have feelings of being a fraud, despite evidence of your competence and success. People who experience imposter syndrome may attribute their achievements to luck, timing, or other external factors, rather than their own abilities, and often fear being exposed as an imposter.
This can lead to feelings of anxiety, self-doubt, and inadequacy, and fear of failing your team.
Symptoms of imposter syndrome
Symptoms of impostor syndrome include:
Crediting luck for your success.
Downplaying your own accomplishments.
Fear of being seen as a failure.
Holding yourself back from reaching attainable goals.
Not wanting to speak up in fear of seeming silly.
Feeling that overworking is the only way to meet expectations.
The most important thing to do is remember you’re not alone—and these feelings aren’t abnormal. When you want to succeed, it’s common to feel like you aren’t doing a good enough job. Over time, those feelings can turn into imposter syndrome.
9 ways to overcome imposter syndrome
If you’re experiencing imposter syndrome, there are actions you can take to reduce those feelings.
Recognize your strengths: Take time to identify your strengths and achievements. Focus on what you do well and celebrate your successes.
Normalise how you are feeling: It’s really important to recognise that other people also suffer from imposter syndrome at various points of their career. Although it can sometimes feel like it, you are not alone.
Focus on the facts: Separate how you are feeling from the facts. Your feelings are likely based on fear whilst the facts are based on reality.
Be kind to yourself: Be kind and compassionate to yourself. Ask yourself “what would a friend say to me right now?”. If they are a true friend, chances are they would say “you are amazing so don’t be so hard on yourself”.
Practice self-affirmations: Use positive affirmations to boost your confidence and remind yourself of your worth. Writing down what you are grateful for in a journal can be helpful.
Prepare ahead of time: If you're feeling out of your depth or nervous about a situation, meeting or conversation, prepare your thoughts prior. Being prepared can increase your confidence.
Seek feedback: Ask for feedback from trusted colleagues, family or friends to help reinforce your strengths, capabilities and competencies.
Embrace your mistakes: Consider your mistakes as opportunities to grow and learn. Remember that everyone makes mistakes and it’s a natural part of learning.
Focus on learning: Reposition your focus from one of perfection to one of learning. Adopting a growth mindset is helpful too.
Celebrate your successes: No matter how big or small your successes are, find time to celebrate them. Writing your successes down in a journal can be a great way to cement them, recognise them and recall them for times you need to be reminded of them.
Remember, although imposter syndrome can be a challenging experience, it is a common one that many people experience at some points in their career. The feelings of self-doubt, anxiety and decreased self-esteem can feel isolating and debilitating. By using these tips and practicing self-compassion, you can overcome imposter syndrome and regain your career confidence.