3 ways to combat imposter’s syndrome at work

“I have written eleven books, but each time I think, ‘uh oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.” – Maya Angelou

Imposter’s syndrome – my good friend that I love to hate ??

I can’t remember the last time that I started working somewhere and didn’t get imposter’s syndrome!

When I joined the church choir as a child? Check.

When I entered sixth-form 2 – 3 years earlier than usual? Check.

When, as a result, I started university aged 16? Check.

When I began a part-time internship in a field I’d never worked in before? Check.

When I started working in consulting? Check.

When I joined a board for the first time? Check.

I mean, I can go on.

But interestingly, I’m not alone.

According to some estimates, up to 70% of successful people have experienced impostor syndrome, including Maya Angelou, Albert Einstein, and Meryl Streep. And yes, I’m up there with the greats!

I didn’t realize this until recently, but Imposter’s Syndrome (or IS for short) a form of anxiety. It pops up when you begin a new role, start a new job, join a new company etc., and it convinces you that you are a fraud and you’re going to get caught out soon.

Some say this is more prevalent amongst high-achievers and perfectionists, people who always want to hit the ground running and deliver big wins even from day one. This assumption would make sense, although, like many psychological phenomena, it’s hard to prove.

As someone who works in consulting, where you’re being thrown into a completely new project every few months, taming imposter’s syndrome is not just a nice skill to have in your toolbox, it’s a must-have, a necessity, a survival strategy.

Here are some ways I think you can cope with our dear friend, IS:

1.    Take it one day at a time

When you’re starting a new role, project, job, or even company, everything is new. There might be similarities to what you were doing before, but it’s ultimately a new situation. Trying to understand how EVERYTHING works right at the start is, kind of, a recipe for Imposter’s Syndrome. This is because, in trying to bite more than you can chew, you can become very fearful and doubtful as to what you can achive. Don’t jump the gun. Take it one day at a time.

2.    Realize that your culture might have made you this way

According to Fiona Buckland, women and people from minority populations tend to experience impostor syndrome more, due to cultural inequities. So, that fear and negative self-talk you have might not be yours to begin with, but rather the voice of a society that has always told you that you’re not good enough. Nonetheless, playing the blame game is not enough, you must become more intentional with your thoughts in order to block out the negative. A practical way to deal with this is to measure what you do every day. If you have made progress today, and have moved some steps forward from where you were yesterday, then maybe you deserve a pat on the back – because success is progress. And, as the famous saying goes “If you believe you can, then you’re already half way there”.

3.    Accept that it’s here but change your inner script and don’t let it cripple you

Neil Gaiman experiences Imposter’s Syndrome, Seth Godin does, Kate Winslett, Michelle Pfeifer … and the list goes on. But they don’t stop working on their craft. They don’t step back and let the fear win. They keep moving. They keep working. They keep grinding. Maybe what you need is a mindset shift; so instead of thinking “I feel this way so I might be a fraud”, change your inner script to “I feel this way and I’m super aware of how much I don’t know, so let me make the most of this by constantly being in learning mode and building my knowledge of this area/role/department/company.” Focus on providing value. And remember that you got where you are and you have achieved what you have achieved so far … because of YOU.

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