An Anxious Girl’s Guide to Climbing the Ladder

Kate Guilbault, Student at the Telfer School of Management

July 17, 2023

You got the position, now what?

You woke up this morning to an email telling you that you’ve been accepted for the position you’ve been dreaming of for weeks. Amazing! It’s time to celebrate and feel a sense of accomplishment for all that you’ve done to get here. But what if you feel that you didn’t do anything special to get here? What if all the right cards just fell into place for you, and now you’re in this awkward position of having higher responsibility without really feeling like you’ve earned it or that you’re ready to manage it??

Whether you’re a student working in university clubs as I am, or a working professional climbing the ladder in your workplace, you will most likely experience a role-change during your career. And it can be great! There’s a rush you feel when you open up an email or answer a call telling you that you’ve been selected to take on a new role or advance from your current position.? You get that bubbly feeling in your chest and a smile instantly plasters itself on your face. But today, I wanted to write about what happens when that adrenaline wears off. When the newness of this news goes away, and you're left with the reality of this new chapter in your life. What will others around you think? Who else applied for this position and didn’t get it? Did this just happen to me by chance? What if I’m not cut out for this and I let everyone down? These anxious questions might start rolling around in your head, and if they do, you’re not alone.?

Studies show that imposter syndrome is linked to advancement in the workplace. In fact, according to Ximena Vengoechea (2023), the fraudulent feeling of imposter syndrome stems from the fact that we may view the factors causing our success as out of our control. We often feel that there are external forces such as luck propelling our lives, and that we don’t deserve the achievements we have earned. This type of anxiety can mean horrible things for our mental health as we continue in these roles. What’s more, anxiety has a snowball effect on our overall internal systems, and can dramatically influence our body’s health in your nervous, cardiovascular, immune, digestive, and respiratory systems.

This syndrome can come into effect no matter how much we work or merit our achievements. If you do experience it, there may always be a little voice in our head telling you that you’re a ‘phony’. Other symptoms may include downplaying your accomplishments, fear of being seen as a failure, or holding back from reaching attainable goals. Even being asked to write this article, I have experienced this syndrome. I consciously know that I work hard in my roles, but question my credentials as a writer or as an expert in any given subject.?

For further evidence that this nagging little bug of a feeling really does affect everyone around you, take a look at former Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz. Described as a transformative leader and taking the reins of one of the world’s largest companies, Howard has built his way up from his more tame early career years. It took hard work and dedication to land in his position, and confirms that “very few people, whether you’ve been in that job before or not, get into the seat and believe today that they are now qualified to be the CEO.” (Schwitz, 2010). He goes on to say that “they're not going to tell you that, but it’s true.”, solidifying even further that even if you don’t see those around you struggling with the same doubts you do, it doesn’t mean they aren’t still struggling too.

It is important to note that there is no age associated with imposter syndrome. There’s no magic year in our lives during? which we stop having this self-doubt. But, especially when we are young, this syndrome can have a large presence in our lives. In our twenties, we’re just starting to spread our wings and discover the fields we want to work in. Nobody's born knowing how to manage trading on the stock market or what an economy of scale is. This is our time to learn, a time that already has us on edge which can propel the anxious feelings in us. In our thirties, we’re developing stronger roots in our fields, and starting our ascent into roles of higher responsibility. These are the times when it’s crucial that we find the right set of tools to add to our toolkits to help manage these feelings in the future. It may seem daunting, but trying and failing the first time is better than not trying and never learning.

I’ve gathered a list of tools to hopefully help you manage the turbulent field that is imposter syndrome. Remember, there is no “one-step-fix” for anything related to our mental well being. These are just some tools you? can use to help manage the issues associated with imposter syndrome:

• Reframe your story by writing it down; it’s so easy to build a narrative in your head of what you think you’re worth, but I encourage you to try to put that on paper, and see how your tone changes. You can repeat in your head again and again that you don’t fit the requirements of the manager position you’ve gotten, but you might find that by writing it down, you start to defend yourself and your positive qualities come to the surface.
• Stop comparing yourself to others; on a personal note, this is something I have struggled with. Why can this person do so much, when I’m doing half of that and feel like I’m drowning? Clearly I’m not cut out for the same opportunities. No. I need to change that thought and focus on my own merits. I do have a strong work ethic and am great at managing multiple responsibilities in my own way. Who cares what the person sitting next to me is capable of achieving? It has no effect on me. Once you realize that, it’s freeing.
• Separate feelings from facts; you may be new to your role and feel you’re spinning out of control, messing up your deliverables and that your supervisor hates you. Well, let me tell you, if they really did have an issue with your work, they would make it known. Look at the facts. Was there an excess of negative feedback during your last review session? Are there legitimate negative consequences to the work you’re doing? No? Well then, you must be right for your role.
• Let go of perfectionism; you don’t need to succeed in all work. Maybe you’re in consulting and just put in a bid for a new piece of work. Just because the prospect client decided to go with another firm this time, doesn’t mean you’re a fraud in your role. If you’re an intern and get feedback from your supervisor telling you they want you to change the format of the PowerPoint they asked you to make for them, you’re not any less valid in your role. You’re simply learning.
• Celebrate your success; did you get all your deliverables in on time this week? Great! Time to reward yourself for the small things. Did you just get promoted to your dream role? Amazing! Take this time to celebrate as well, you deserve it.
• Share your feelings; humans are social creatures. We can’t survive by keeping our emotions to ourselves. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with the amount of tasks on your plate, share that with someone who can help you out or who can simply lend an ear for a little while. Admitting you need help doesn’t make you weak, it makes you stronger than most.

On a final note, you should never hesitate to talk to others or a licensed professional about your feelings. There’s a whole world of people who have felt what you have before and they can help you get to a place where you’re able to manage this anxiety and feel like you deserve what you achieved. The next time you get a promotion or earn a new position, I hope you remember this and that you’re able to enjoy it.

References

Howard Schultz. Starbucks Stories. (n.d.). https://stories.starbucks.com/leadership/howard-schultz/

Imposter syndrome not related to age or gender, study suggests. Neuroscience from Technology Networks. (n.d.). https://www.technologynetworks.com/neuroscience/news/imposter-syndrome-not-related-to-age-or-gender-study-suggests-362508

The New York Times. (2010, October 9). Good C.E.O.’s are insecure (and know it). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/business/10corner.html?_r=1

Pogored. (2022, April 4). What’s imposter syndrome and how to overcome it. Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/a-psychologist-explains-how-to-deal-with-imposter-syndrome/

Vengoechea, X. (2023, February 17). How to get over imposter syndrome. The Muse. https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-banish-imposter-syndrome-and-embrace-everything-you-deserve?