Becoming Unstoppable at Work: 7 Powerful, Proven Tools to Banish the Causes of Imposter Syndrome

Introduction

Today, a LinkedIn post from Netta Jenkins CEO, Aerodei stood out about her new book, The Inclusive Organization, via Arlan Hamilton of Backstage Capital . "I NEED for every single woman to watch this video and throw the word imposter syndrome in the garbage. Stop doubting yourself." She noted, "The Rick’s [pictured] of the world are moving along in life without any credentials. They are solely leaning on their thoughts that boost their confidence!"

As a career coach and senior marketer, I've seen, experienced and helped ladies overcome imposter syndrome to get ahead at work. It's not simply a matter of stopping this activity--it's a matter of how? How can we let go of a nagging fear of failure when we've been socially conditioned to do so.

I'll ask you this: Do you feel like you haven't quite earned the recognition or promotions you deserve in the workplace? Feeling like you're always an imposter and like you don't really belong in that chair? You're not alone – in fact, it's a worldwide phenomenon, often felt more acutely by working women.

That's why we've compiled a list of 7 power-packed tools to help you gain confidence and become unstoppable in your career, no matter your background, experiences, or status in your company.

Understanding the root causes of imposter syndrome

Imposter Syndrome, or the feeling of inadequacy regardless of accomplishments, is a common experience for women working in tech (and nearly every industry for that matter). And it's not just tech. In a recent conversation about imposter syndrome for women in medicine, a Twitter account @WomenInMedChat's aspiring surgeon participant noted, "I'd like to meet someone who HASN'T had imposter syndrome." But why? According to an opinion piece from the American Medical Association:

"Data shows that women are socialized to frame their suggestions as questions in order to garner consensus, to avoid seeming abrasive. Other studies show that women can be penalized for exercising power and volubility in meetings, whereas doing the same has a strong, positive effect on men. These learned behaviors ultimately contribute to a self-perpetuating cycle: by softening their edges, women may not be recognized for their competence and therefore not be promoted."

"But this oversight then leads to women doubting their capabilities and deepening a sense of imposter syndrome. Health care organizations seeking to pro-mote individuals of all genders and racial backgrounds need to be proactive about setting rules and norms that recognize women for excellent work, aim for pay parity, and allocate resources toward leadership training for women and minorities. Organizations must also develop mechanisms by which they repeatedly re-evaluate their progress toward these goals."

"Additionally, cultural change needs to be paired with concrete commitment to mitigate the root causes of imposter syndrome."

When we can acknowledging the systemic bias and discrimination within the tech (and more broadly, almost every industry) we can help women become more confident in their abilities and advance in their careers.

So, until systematic change happens, let's get to the tools:

Tool #1. Reassess your expectations at work

When it comes to gaining authority professionally, many women in tech find themselves falling short of their expectations. Reassess your employers goals and expectations regularly (keeping your accomplishments, dates and colleagues will help keep track).

If you find yourself not having progressed towards your long-term career aspirations, it may be beneficial to focus on attainable intermediate steps. Noting and celebrating your accomplishments supports your successful journey. Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small, to maintain motivation and self-esteem.

Tool #2. Discovering Your Purpose-Driven ‘Power of Why’

When you’re on your path to getting promoted (requesting a raise or going for that next interview), take the time to figure out why it’s so important to you. What drives you to pursue your career goals? What impact do you hope to have on the world through tech? The answers to these questions can provide you with a sense of purpose that can help you stay driven and focused to do what it takes to get to the next level.

Tool #3. Reframe Your Failure or Mistakes

Your attempt to speak up and speak out failed. It's easy to get discouraged when our attempts fail or when we make a mistake. But without failure there is no success. Admittedly, it feels horrible.

However, failure provides valuable opportunities for learning and growth. It offers insights into areas for improvement to build resilience, creativity and critical thinking skills. Embracing and learning from failures means you can continuously refine your skills and increase your chances of success long-term.

Tool #4. Share Your Wins: Brag Better

It's only natural to experience times of self-doubt, especially in an industry as competitive as tech. But don't let a fear of failure keep you from getting the credit you deserve. As Meredith C. Fineman has noted in Brag Better, this tactic of self-advocacy is an essential element of moving ahead.

Being your own advocate is a practice and skill, especially for women who find it uncomfortable to shake the norms of gendered (ie female) modesty.

However, there are ways around this. A former female colleague created a company-wide e-mail to share bi-weekly accomplishments and won recognition along the way. It was a win-win!

Share the wins from your team at company meetings, writing articles showcasing your success and even applying to industry awards based on your accomplishments gives you even more chances to receive recognition--including together with your team. Establish an environment of confidence, positivity and trust and showcase it strategically to enable your next promotion.

Tool #5. Build Awareness of Cognitive Distortions

One of the first steps to overcoming imposter syndrome is to become aware of the cognitive distortions that fuel it. These are the negative thoughts and beliefs that lead us to doubt our abilities and accomplishments.

Some common cognitive distortions include:

? All-or-nothing thinking: You see things in black and white, without any shades of gray. If you make one mistake, you believe it means you’re a total failure.

? Overgeneralization: You take one negative event and assume it will always happen. For example, you may believe that because you were rejected for one job, you’ll never get hired anywhere.

? Disqualifying the positive: You discount your successes and focus solely on your failures. For example, you may write off a successful presentation as beginner’s luck or downplay a compliment you received from your boss.

? Mind reading: You assume you know what other people are thinking, often drawing negative conclusions about yourself. For example, you may believe your co-workers think you’re incompetent or that your friends are only spending time with you out of pity.

? Fortune telling: You believe you can accurately predict the future, usually in a negative way. For example, you may be convinced you’ll never get promoted or that your business will fail.

By becoming aware of these cognitive distortions, you can start to challenge and reframe them. When you catch yourself thinking in one of these ways, take a step back and ask yourself if there’s another way to look at the situation.

Tool #6. Practice Mindful Breathing to Connect with Your Power

Are you feeling the fear of taking the next step in your career, of getting the promotion or new job you deserve? Many women in tech have experienced this fear, otherwise known as Imposter Syndrome. It can keep us from taking the leaps and bounds necessary for true success. An essential part of conquering this fear is to reconnect to your inner power and your long-term career vision. One powerful yet simple tool to do this is mindful breathing.

Mindful breathing can help you step into your inner strength, silencing your fears and doubts. Whenever you feel overwhelmed by fear or self-doubt, take a few minutes to practice mindful breathing. Find a comfortable position in a distraction-free space and concentrate on your inhalations and exhalations. As you focus on the breath moving through your body, you can access your inner power and self-confidence. Regularly connect to your power and you'll be unstoppable in achieving your career goals.

Tool #7. Embrace Mentorship & Accountability Systems

Not all companies offer opportunities for mentorship, especially given the economic climate. However, mentorship programs can be a valuable tool to help further your career, as well as offer a consistent support system to rely on.

Mentorship builds confidence and can also provide accountability as well, giving you that extra push to stay organized and on top of your tasks. Whether official or unofficial, creating your support system is dually important to cheer us on during our toughest days.

Conclusion

You’ve come full circle – from recognizing your imposter syndrome to taking steps to become an unstoppable force of success. The 7 proven tools to banish imposter syndrome are now your secret weapon to move through your goals with confidence and clarity.

When you feel Imposter Syndrome creeping in, be sure to refer to this article and practice these strategies to get back to feeling unstoppable. You’ve got this – as long as you believe in yourself and trust your journey, there’s no limit to what you can accomplish. Go on, conquer the world – you’re a powerful and unstoppable force!

Have you ever felt imposter syndrome? Would be curious to hear about it below!