Imposter Syndrome
5 Tips to Manage & Overcome it
Imposter Syndrome is something that most women feel at some stage in their work life - researchers for Forbes Magazine say up to 70% of people experience it. It’s that voice in your head that says “I just got lucky” or “I don’t belong here” - feeling like a fraud despite being an intelligent & highly skilled professional. But know that you are not alone if you experience this… there are ways to overcome it – so read on for my 5 tips to help:
1️⃣ Recognise the signs and acknowledge your feelings
The first step is to recognise the signs - feeling like you “got lucky” or convinced you’re not good enough - and acknowledge these feelings, and why. Remember that, while feelings are important, they are just feelings and do not necessarily reflect reality; because feeling unqualified doesn't mean you actually are. So step back and ask yourself “Is that really true?” – create a distance between yourself and your thoughts so you can consider them rationally.
2️⃣ Let go of trying to be perfect
Overcome perfectionist habits and remember that mistakes are a part of life, they demonstrate that you're not afraid to take risks or push yourself to try new things. Failure is not the opposite of success it is PART of it. Striving for perfection is not realistic and often is counter-productive.
3️⃣ Develop a quick response - positive self talk
When you catch yourself thinking or saying negative things e.g. “I just got lucky to get here”, replace those things with positive talk e.g. “I worked hard to get here” – and remind yourself of the steps you took and the work you did to get to that point. Positive self-talk helps you reframe the way you look at stressful situations too.
Write down some positive statements or affirmations that defuse your negative self-talk.
I’ve included a few simple ones below to kickstart you:
“I worked hard to get here, and I belong here”
“Attempting to do this took courage and I am proud of myself for trying”
“This is an opportunity to try something new”
“I can learn from this situation and grow as a person”
4️⃣ Collect positive feedback and create a record of all your wins
Remind yourself you’re good at what you do!! Create a folder in your email inbox to save any praise/emails complimenting your work that you have received over the years, to remind yourself of your value when you need a quick confidence boost. If you receive any verbal praise - jot it down in a notebook so you remember it and can look back on it later down the line.
There will be a time when you have an important meeting/presentation coming up, or you are returning to work after maternity leave and you need reminding how wildly capable you are – if you have this folder/notebook to hand that you can flick through, you will feel so much better!
And, if you want to go one step further; create a list of ALL your accomplishments, accolades and achievements throughout your career, and even outside of your work. Note down every win, however big or small. Include numbers to quantify your success (because it’s hard to argue with facts and figures) and also include achievements from outside of work. Keep this safe and add to it continuously - have it as a working document and when you’re feeling those imposter syndrome feelings creep in – read it and see how much better you feel. It’s easy to forget just how much you have achieved! Enjoy the read and be proud of yourself!
5️⃣ Talk to your support network:
You may be surprised by who else feels like this! Listen to the people you respect in your life (work circle and family/friends) and let them show you how your fears are unfounded. Remember - It’s good to talk!
Bonus tip: Get a coach to work with! There is nothing better than having your own personal cheerleader who is only interested in your success and is there to remind you of how wildly capable you are!
