How can you use storytelling to overcome imposter syndrome?

Your story is the foundation for the expertise you bring to help others. Leaning into your story, celebrating your success, and what you've overcome will fortify your belief in yourself. That's the beginning of overcoming imposter syndrome. That said, it will raise its ugly head regularly, but you will become stronger in dealing with it and moving forward....building self-confidence with each person you help on your journey.

Don't overcome it. Embrace it. Accept that you're human and if humble, sometimes unwilling to flaunt your successes, even if meager. Instead of looking at yourself as inferior or inadequate, reverse that perspective by simply seeing room to improve. - you're not lacking; you're growing - you're not dumb; you're learning - you're not odd; everyone has limits Someone once said, "You're not dumber than the rest of them!" And it's true. You're not. So use your unique story, which only you can tell, to share your successes and failures along the way. Flip the script from anything filled with doubt to focus instead on the facts which others can learn from. Authentic is to your advantage. Show the scars. You earned them and are better for it!

I once was told that if you are aiming for a promotion that doesn't scare you, at least a little, then it isn't really a promotion and you are aiming too low. I feel imposter sydnrome most when I start a new role as there is so much you don't know at that time. However I do think it is important to tap into the knowledge from the people already within the department and to learn from those around you. Over time as you become knowledgeable and skilled in the work you are doing the imposter syndrome will become lesser.

Here is a different perspective: Mentor others. As your career progresses and you gain the wisdom and enhanced intuition that comes with experience, you have the ability to share that wisdom with others. Knowledge is most powerful when shared and few things are more rewarding professionally than seeing others grow and shine when you put in the time and effort to guide and mentor them.

Como siempre digo: "Ten muy claro todo tus logros, recuerda como iniciaste. Ten presente todo tu esfuerzo y dedicación". Cuando tenemos clara nuestra historia de vida, no será difícil luchar contra el síndrome del impostor. Aquel que, muchas veces, busca manipular nuestros pensamientos y hacernos sentir que no somos capaces para lograr un objetivo. Aquel que nos hace compararnos y bajonearnos. Grandes talentos, caen atrapados en el "lo hubiera hecho", recuerda que el hubiera no existe. Cree en ti, ten en cuenta tus principales motivadores y todo será posible si te esfuerzas. Todo nace lanzándote, atreviéndote. ?Tú puedes! :) ?Un abrazo! Jesús Atalaya.

When I first started at Miller Heiman I had been an elementary teacher. I didn't have experience selling so I didn't have the stories I needed to effectively run the training programs. I was excellent at delivering the content but that was not enough. Since I didn't have my own stories, I borrowed the stories of my mentors. I learned their stories inside and out so I could tell them flawlessly at the appropriate time. I never said, I did this, or I did that, I told the story about what happened in a way that gave me credibility without being the one in the story. It worked.

When i started working in the freight forwarding industry, i had my good friends, Fredrik Nyberg and Gordon Bohnen both Directors of their current company, giving me advices on how to get clients and how to market our services. I also, want to thank my boss, who believed in my ability to build the business of both our India and Kuwait offices and then relocated me to Dubai, to open a branch here and train me as well to quote for lcl and fcl shipment requirements. I owe them a lot and i am where i am at right now because of their good advices

At one of my previous companies, most of my colleagues found my Director aggressive and scary. But I still want to be that woman one day. She is a powerhouse, makes her presence known and though she may come across as aggressive and scary, she is actually loud and confident to those who actually listen and there is no aggression involved, only passion for what she does. I want to be able to share my voice like she does!

Thinking about the mentors who shaped my path, I'm reminded of the impact explored in Adam Grant's "Give and Take." Expressing gratitude and acknowledging their influence is not just about my growth but echoes Grant's insights on the dynamics of success through collaboration.

Was mir geholfen hat, meine sichere Komfortzone im ?ffentlichen Dienst zu verlassen, war die Gründung in Teilzeit. Zun?chst habe ich meine Festanstellung auf 80 Prozent runtergefahren, um dann nebenberuflich zu gründen. Das hat nach 5 Monaten so gut funktioniert, dass ich mich ab Monat 6 in die Vollzeit-Selbstst?ndigkeit getraut habe. Meine Tipps: Fang früh an, ein Netzwerk aufzubauen. Frag andere um Hilfe, wenn Du alleine nicht weiter kommst. Ich bin kein Fan von ?einfach machen“. Ich glaube, dass alles, was mit Strategie, Herz und Verstand gemacht wird, am Ende erfolgreicher sein wird. Gute Planung ist daher das A und O bei so etwas Wichtigem wie der Gründung eines Unternehmens, das Dir Deinen Lebensunterhalt erwirtschaften soll.

Overcome Imposter Syndrome by being your best self. Never look back (well, look back at the work you have done in the past to realize how far you have come), but other than that, keep moving forward. Share your knowledge with others freely. Enjoy the company of people in the same positions and share valuable tips and tricks of the trade. Sharing helps us all grow and be better for our customers/clients. Being the best partner to my clients is success for me. I always look at the world positively and hope and wish for only the best success for everyone else. Do what you love, enjoy each moment of your success. Enjoy life.

Let me add here: celebrate the success of your colleagues and peers! We raise by lifting others. It feels so good to be happy for someone else. It will fill your heart with joy! And that will boost your own confidence ??

When I feel some imposter syndrome going back to my accomplishments over the last few years helps me be reminded that I am supposed to be here. To this I use social media as my diary and portfolio. I post and record an accomplishment when it happens and when I need to remember I go back to them and re-live it!!!

Some of the most extraordinary experts have imposter syndrome. It’s more common than you’d think. It’s important be celebrate ourselves. The Harvard Business Review wrote about the power of “micro wins”. Each small win we have creates an energy to win again. It’s the secret behind top athletes and entrepreneurs. It’s key to celebrate the small wins because we begin to rework our thought process and combat imposter syndrome. Even a handwritten love note to yourself that you’re doing an awesome job. Harvard Business Review article: https://hbr.org/2011/05/the-power-of-small-wins

As we ponder on our failures, it is important to celebrate our successes no matter how big or small. You have worked hard for it and you have all the right to share, explode, brag, over talk about your smallest to biggest achievement as it helps you in your next step!

We often don’t realise or appreciate the amount of shared experience we have with those around us, even those you’ve never met before networking. By sharing your own journey and experiences, naturally you’ll gain feedback from others without having to specifically ask for it. Through this sharing and feedback, you will gain: - new and unique perspectives - validation or alternates on your actions - greater understanding of surrounding circumstances. This should only affirm your path out of imposter syndrome is through sharing and storytelling. Enjoy ??

Early in my career, imposter syndrome crept in. Seeking feedback from respected peers and mentors became my compass. Constructive criticism, especially from those I admired, reshaped my perspective. Embracing this process unveiled untapped potential. The lesson? Feedback is a powerful ally in overcoming self-doubt.

Feedback can be scary but so important and it helps you learn and grow. Without it, you are unaware of what could be holding you back. I’m not afraid of negative feedback but I used to be. I used to take it personally but now I see it as a source of valuable information which I can use.

One of the most powerful ways to overcome imposter syndrome is to get honest feedback from those who know your work. Reach out to past co-workers to ask them what they would say made you unique. Often you will find out things that others see in you that you don't even think about. This can be a real confidence booster. Use them as sounding boards for the stories you are telling, and this will give you the validation that the stories truly reflect your contributions. This has the added value of refreshing your network at the same time, positioning those past co-workers to help you in your career or job search goals.

Feedback is the best help I can have to correct my path during the journey. I think is very important if the feedback is constructive, honest and in time. You have to accept critics with open heart and ready to use any useful suggestion.

Not every story is worth reading or telling. You read and get inspired by stories that resonate with you. You means, your value system, your core beliefs, your goals and interests. Till you dont see yourself in that story, it will not matter even if you read a million!

Connection comes from authenticity. Tell stories that mean something to you, that peel back any facade and show who you are. The good and the bad. I’m also a believer of how inspiring stories can be when combined with data.

One of your most powerful tools is to become comfortable telling stories where you show vulnerability. This serves two purposes: 1. You become comfortable telling vulnerable and authentic stories. This helps reinforce in your mind that it is safe and OK to be vulnerable. 2. People you are vulnerable with are more likely to empathise with you, be vulnerable themselves and connect with you. This deepens the conversation and also reduces the sense that 'it's just me' who feels this way.

From my experience, addressing impostor syndrome in storytelling can be effectively achieved by gathering with the team and ask the following question: "What has been the most impactful story you've shared during a sales meeting?" Additionally, when joining a new organization, I find it invaluable to learn their story, whether it's a memorable sale, the growth journey, or the reasons behind that expansion. These experiences serve as invaluable tools for narrating to your leads. They convey authenticity as real stories about tangible products or services. Also, you can learn this structure to make great stories: Situation - Scope - Results. Always remember: humans love to hear stories!

People get inspired by stories they can relate to whether its success or failure and not just stories that get a lot of traffic.

Imposter syndrome is often worsened if one does not spend time narrating their own story and success. Make yourself the protagonist of a story and avoid using negative language to describe yourself.

Practice story telling in every communication you have. Examples make people believe in you. That gives a great confidence. Important skill to get established and also for winning/ reaching ones goal

Your stories will always be your stories, and stories are powerful when speaking to an audience; but if you are unable to deliver them successfully, they are just another tale being told as opposed to a powerful tool to captivate & wow those you are speaking to. There needs to be a specific structure as well as a confident delivery to truly captivate your audience. Who needed help (customer) & what is the problem they have? What hurdles did they face & how did they overcome them? What was the successful outcome? If the story rolls off your tongue with little to no effort, it will sound more believable and you will appear more trustworthy. This will help your audience connect with your story better & relate it to their own situation.

Storytelling is what inspires what we buy, what we watch, what we talk about. The craft of storytelling can be used to do good in the world. Good compounds. So with practicing storytelling, you’re not only mastering elevating your own life, you’re also propelling more positive across our global community. To practice ask yourself what do you want people to think, feel, do with the story you’re sharing. Do you want them to feel safe, seen or valued? What is your end goal in the story. Describe the details and the why behind your story. For example rather than “the teacher taught well”, instead share “the teacher’s lifelong dream was to elevate children. She wasn’t allowed to go to school and wanted every child to have access to learn.”

Stell dir vor, Geschichtenerz?hlen ist wie ein entspannter Kaffee mit deiner Freundin. Du erz?hlst, probierst aus, findest deinen eigenen Stil und lernst ganz nebenbei, wie du deine Geschichten lebendig machst. Es geht nicht darum, perfekt zu sein, sondern darum, deine Botschaft authentisch zu vermitteln. Und das Beste daran? Du hast Spa? dabei, entdeckst vielleicht neue Seiten an dir und wirst ganz nebenbei ein besserer Content-Creator.

Am I the only one who finds it slightly weird that we are invited as "experts" to comment on an AI generated article???????? Every time I get one of these invites, (not every time), I pop over, see the blandly worded AI nonsense, and usually leave without adding any non AI generated nonsense of my own. ??? But it has to be said. ??? So I said it.??? O.K. Cue nonsense resumption. ??? Does this mean LI is going to stop asking for my "expert" feedback? ??? We'll see.??? It's a risk I am willing to take. ?? O.K. Back to binge watching YouTube real people created nonsense. ?????????

Impostor syndrome is a made up term. You're not trying to be someone else. That's what an impostor is. You are being a version of yourself you haven't seen yet. You're not an impostor you are in progress. Give yourself grace on that journey. You aren't confident yet in this new you but confidence takes time. Remind yourself that no one becomes the best version of themselves over night, and that you need to speak positive language about yourself. Throw out these terms that aren't positive.

One tip I heard from marketer Frank Kern was that more equals more. At the time he was talking about doing live videos, and he was talking about 2 things he discovered - 1. The more he did them, the more results he got. 2. The more he did them, the more he enjoyed doing them, and it sank home for me, because I also find that the more I do my live videos, the more I believe in myself, my story, my ability to use all of it to serve others. It's a *great* tip for using stories to help overcome imposter syndrome

I like what VJ has said. Let’s not call it a syndrome. We all have times when we feel that we don’t have enough experience to feel confident. We practice and we study, and we grow!

If you don't believe, embrace, or appreciate your stories, they will not help with imposter syndrome. And they're likely not helpful to your audience. You can create authenticity and reliability by ensuring your stories include successes and failures. There is value in embracing and sharing your shortcomings and foibles. Weaving them into your stories with what you learned from them can benefit others and make you relatable. If you learn to embrace your experiences holistically, you might also empower yourself when you realize you don't need to be perfect to add value. Will this rid you of feeling undeserving forever? Probably not. But it could give you a path to getting back on track when imposter syndrome hits.