Throughout life, many people are struck with the feeling that they’re not good enough in their job, incompetent, and a fraud, no matter how long they’ve been working or the level that they’re at. This is imposter syndrome, defined as a psychological pattern in which a person doubts themselves and their achievements, which causes fear, anxiety, and even depression. A person suffering from this continues to feel like a fraud despite their career going from strength to strength, hence its name.
If you’ve ever had these feelings, you’re not alone. According to an article published in the International Journal of Behavioral Science, it’s suggested that 70% of people experience these impostor feelings at some point in their lives, whilst it disproportionately affects high-achieving people who find it difficult to accept their accomplishments.
Imposter Syndrome can appear in many ways, and to find solutions to overcome it, it’s important to understand the identified types:
The perfectionist: You’re never satisfied and always feel that your work could be better, with the tendency to fixate on any flaws or mistakes.
The superhero: Because you feel inadequate, you feel compelled to push yourself to work as hard as possible.
The expert: You’re always trying to learn more and are never satisfied with your level of understanding.
The natural genius: You set excessively high goals for yourself, and are then disappointed when you don't succeed on your first try.
The soloist: You typically prefer to work alone and tend to see asking for help as a sign of weakness or incompetence.
Despite its prevalence, people who suffer from Imposter Syndrome still maintain successful careers. For many, it can fuel feelings of motivation and drive people to work harder than necessary so others don’t find out they’re a fraud. The former first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, even talked about her experience with the disorder and ultimately how she tried or still tries to overcome it.
There’s no single cause or trigger for experiencing imposter feelings, and if you do feel like a fraud, working harder may not help you change your self-image, but could lead to burnout. In this article, a variety of solutions have been identified to help you deal with imposter feelings productively, and enhance your overall well-being.
Assess your accomplishments
The problem with impostor syndrome is that the experience of doing well at something doesn’t change your self-belief. You may even rationalize your achievements as just ‘good luck’.
As a leader, your accomplishments will no doubt be many, and no achievement is too small for this list. It’s important to regularly list your accomplishments so you can gradually let go of feeling like an underachiever. This positive exercise encourages you to understand and accept your abilities and skills, removes negative perceptions, and ultimately boosts your confidence.
Identify the source of your anxiety
When you’re having negative thoughts, write them down and review them, logically. If you’re concerned about being slow, for example, compare your timekeeping over a period of time and you’ll see an improvement. It’s important to question if your thoughts are rational and to develop the ability to challenge your doubts.
Remind yourself that perfection doesn’t exist
Don't focus on doing things perfectly, but rather, do things reasonably well and reward yourself for taking action. Understanding that achieving perfection is an impossible feat and that challenges will, in fact, make you stronger and better at what you do. So, aim to focus on your long-term goals, and take challenges in your stride.
Talk to someone
Irrational beliefs tend to fester when they’re hidden and not talked about, so seek out a person you can confide in and who can help you rationalize these feelings.
Imposter Syndrome is fairly common and it’s likely you have met someone who has experienced it before. Take advantage of this by starting a conversation about experiences and begin to understand ways in which you can overcome them. Although the personal experiences of those suffering may differ, the methods of dealing with it may be similar.
Research into Imposter Syndrome by Basima Tawfik highlighted an important point, which is that many people think that having Impostor Syndrome can reduce how effective they are at work. In fact, the study shows there’s no tangible difference between those with the syndrome and those without it.
The reason to identify and overcome imposter syndrome is to help better your overall well-being. When you apply these small strategies and steps into your life, it can help you to control negative thoughts as soon as they materialize. Doing so will help you to accomplish more, rid yourself of your fears, and finally, will allow you to leave your comfort zone.
