6 steps to overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Samantha Young
CEO of Human Psychology ?? Executive Coach ?? Psychologist ?? Trainer ?? Key-note speaker
“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
Impostor Syndrome is a collection of feelings of inadequacy that remain even in the face of information that indicates that the opposite is true. It is experienced as chronic self-doubt that can be summarised as “I am a fraud and everyone is about to find out.” The term Impostor Syndrome was coined to describe this way of feeling back in the 1980’s. Researchers believe that up to 70% of people have suffered from it at some point. Impostor Syndrome is typically associated with highly achieving, highly successful people.
Women experiencing Impostor Syndrome may be less willing to put themselves forward, feeling that they are not qualified, by:
- not applying for jobs, promotions, pay rises and other employment opportunities
- disclaiming or understating their experience/skill
- experiencing nervousness about talking to others in their field
- feeling like a fraud
- worrying that someone will find out their lack of qualifications and fire them
- having higher stress
- over-preparing for tasks
- downplaying successes to chance or luck
- filtering out positive comments and compliments
- not sharing their achievements and successes and failing to self-promote
6 steps to overcome Imposter Syndrome
1. Accept you had a role in your success
Learn to internalise your achievements and successes by acknowledging that it was not all down to good luck, timing, other people or external circumstances.
2. Focus on creating value
Try to be less concerned about yourself and what others are thinking about you. By genuinely trying to help someone else and focussing on creating and sharing value in your interactions with others, you will shift your focus away from yourself.
3. Giving your best is not the same thing as being your best 100% of the time.
There is a big difference between trying to improve yourself and having to be better than everyone else. Overcoming the Imposter Syndrome requires self-acceptance. It is not about lowering your standards, it is about resetting them to a realistic level that does not leave you forever striving and feeling inadequate.
4. Keep a file of the nice things people tell you
Take responsibility for your successes as equally you do your failures. Try writing a list of all the major things you’ve accomplished over the last few years. Look at the list – you deserved your successes, didn’t you? Also write down the positive things people have said about you and your work and review this list regularly.
5. Stop comparing yourself
Learn to respect your own experience. Author Iyanla Vanzant believes that “comparison is an act of violence against the self.” Comparisons tend to be subjective, biased and rarely helpful.
6. Fake it until you make it
Realise that no one actually really knows what they are doing! You are not an imposter for trying something that might not work. Being wrong and making mistakes does not make you an imposter. They make you human.
Sometimes faking it does not make you a fraud. For example, if you smile your body will produce “happy” chemicals and actually make you feel happier. If you behave assertively and confidently even though you may feel nervous, others will react to you differently and reinforce your self-confidence. Neuroplasticity means that you can shape your brain by faking behaviour until you feel differently. This does not mean being inauthentic or wearing multiple masks. Who you are is enough already.
