Have you recently landed a new job or a promotion and feel like you don’t deserve it?

In the last year, I have had three conversations with people who have got the CXO job for the first time. Two of them were appointed to a new role at a new organization, and one person was promoted in their own organization to the CXO role. All three asked me what they should watch out for as they begin the new chapter in their career. I asked all of them to watch out for the impostor syndrome.?

I advised them to remember that they got the job because the panel that selected them found them worthy and capable of doing the role. The leaders at the organization already recognize that they have the skills to deliver. They should not begin by being in a hurry to prove why they deserved the role, instead focus on how they can begin to understand the requirement of the role and build their charter to deliver results.??

This feeling of self-doubt and incompetency is known as Imposter syndrome - a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments or talents and has a fear of being exposed as a "fraud", despite having evidence of outward success.

Imposter syndrome affects approximately 70% of people and it can arise at any time during our career or life. It is commonly experienced when we’re starting something new or when we feel out of our comfort zone. This means, ironically, the further we go in our career, the more opportunities there are for imposter syndrome to rear its ugly head.?

Have you recently landed a new job or a promotion and feel like you don’t deserve it??

You may be experiencing imposter syndrome.

So, What exactly is this impostor syndrome?

?It is a sense of self-doubt related to accomplishments predominantly at work. You might have feelings of phoniness and think you don’t deserve your new job promotion or growth in life. Oftentimes, imposter syndrome makes you feel like you’re tricking your co-workers and organization into thinking you’re good at what you do.?Other symptoms include:

• Lack of self-confidence??
• Sensitivity towards small mistakes
• Fear of failing your team?and boss
• Burnout?from working too hard to prove your worth?
• Being self-conscious in the presence of peers?

How to deal with impostor syndrome?

There are things you can do to train yourself. Focus on the good over the bad. ?One of the first steps in overcoming the impostor feeling is to acknowledge these thoughts and put them in perspective.?

Another way to combat the impostor phenomenon is to gather evidence. For example, "- why would you believe this promotion was purely due to luck and not because of your hard work and delivery? Count your achievements that will explain why -you got this promotion?"

It can also be helpful to share what you’re feeling with trusted friends or mentors. People who have more experience and can share their insights with? you that what you’re feeling is normal and knowing others have been in your position can make it less scary.

Suggested ways to deal are? :?

Accept that everything doesn’t have to be perfect - Learn to take your mistakes in stride, viewing them as a natural part of the process. In addition, push yourself to act before you’re ready. Start the project you’ve been planning for months, even if you don’t have everything perfect. There never is a “perfect time” and your work will never be 100% flawless.?

Value Adding work, not hours worked – Look at what you accomplish not how many hours you put in. Ease off the gas and gauge how much work is reasonable. Recognizing that what you do needs to be effective and key than the number of hours you spend and how hard you work.

Ask for help – recognize that asking for help isn’t a weakness and there’s no shame in asking for help when you need it. People who help you feel valued. It’s OK to be independent, but not to the extent that you refuse assistance when you really could use it.?

Help others - Mentoring junior colleagues or volunteering where you can contribute your talents is a great way to discover that you have capability and value. When you share what you know it not only benefits others but also helps you let go of your feelings of being an impostor?

Accept failure sometimes - Everyone fails sometimes. Use failures as an opportunity to learn and grow, not as a reason to beat yourself up and think that you are a failure.?

Bottomline…

Overcoming impostor syndrome is an ongoing process that will be different for each person, but is very achievable. It's not something you do once and it's all fixed. It's a skill and you must practice. Start by accepting and acknowledging your capabilities and accomplishments.??

It is normal to experience moments of doubt. The important thing is not to let that doubt control you. Work on minimizing the impostor feeling now that you know about it and use tools, evidence, and insight to convince yourself you are capable and worthwhile. You might have an impostor moment, but not an impostor life.

As I Say- ?“everyone has it, some are two steps ahead of you and have got better at hiding, and some are fighting it.”?You don’t have to fight with everything that comes your way. Accept it, deal with it, and don’t let it affect your career.

If you want to have a conversation and I can help, reach out and I am happy to connect.