How do you deal with imposter syndrome? You get used to it.

At a recent female networking event, the panel were posed the question "how do you deal with imposter syndrome?" My gut reaction and honest advice was "you get used to it."

The thought passing through my mind at that precise moment was an interview I had seen with 'The Brownlee Brothers' (the uber-elite British Triathletes, for those unfamiliar with the reference), where they discussed how much their training, particularly for the running discipline of the event, hurt. It reminded me of the common and unhelpful misconception that someone who attains uber-elite status in their chosen field reaches a pinnacle from where they comfortably sit, surveying their many successes, never experiencing discomfort, doubt or anxiety in a way us mere mortals do.

My experiences of working with high-performers is that this could not be further from the truth. Instead, the thing that distinguishes high performers is a willingness to embrace and work with discomfort.

I do not want to appear dismissive of something that so many cite as challenging. Rather, I suggest a reframing of the issue. Let us bust the myth that supreme or absolute confidence in every waking moment is the target destination. Healthy self doubt can be a good thing, providing you develop the habits to channel those moments into self-growth, and an awareness to observe if the habits become un-healthy. Clearly there is a time and place for looking at the root causes of imposter syndrome, but that is deep work and unlikely to be something any of us can put into action without guided support.

So, if immediate implementation is the name of the game, how do you deal with imposter syndrome?

1. Anticipate that imposter syndrome will rear its ugly head, particularly when you are embarking on new territory.
2. Recognise imposter syndrome as a form of cognitive distortion that generates feelings of discomfort and rather than avoid, get ready to get curious about that discomfort.
3. Reframe the discomfort as something that can be used for growth.
4. Observe your inner monologue - "I can't", "I am not good enough", "I shouldn't be here", "I got lucky", "Others are more talented than me".
5. Challenge these assumptions, factually - "I did", "I was", "I am", "Everyone gets lucky some of the time", "Maybe, but I'm confident I have done the work".

There is no silver bullet, but by curiously exploring what you are feeling and importantly what you are 'telling yourself' in the moments of feeling like an imposter, then making it a habit to factually challenge the assumptions you are carrying, you will notice you can lessen the noose of imposter syndrome.

If you would like further support to reframe imposter syndrome as a positive fuel for your performance, or are indeed ready to do the work required to address the root causes of imposter syndrome, don't hesitate to get in touch.