The Imposter Syndrome

Now that you got the job you always worked hard for! You wake up before the alarm goes off; because you were so anxious that you didn’t sleep the night before. However, you manage to get dressed and leave the house until you find yourself in front of a newly set up clean office that belongs to you, and you think “How on earth did I get here? do I even know how to do this job?”

The fear that engulfs you in that moment is called “The Imposter Syndrome”. It is “a phenomenon wherein successful people doubt their competence.”

Imposter syndrome is usually associated with concerns such as perfectionism and overworking. Almost 70% of professionals had reported experiencing it as some point during their careers.

Individuals going through this experience may:

• Turn down new opportunities
• Understate their achievements
• Doubt their decisions
• Overwork to the point of burnout to feel they are contributing enough

If you are starting a new role in a completely different field, or if you have spent years in a position and now got the opportunity to upscale the ladder. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and doubt the very same skills you have developed with sweat and blood!

If that happens, remember that the feeling of being an imposter is only crippling our potential and it is only in our head! It is truly the fear of us failing that hurts the ego of the perfectionist within us.

Here are my favorite 3 tips from Forbes Coaches Council that you should try out:

1. Tack Your Own Success

journaling is one of the best ways to track success, reflect on your small wins or accomplishments on daily basis and make it a habit to note down one highlight of the day task that you need to accomplish. However, if you did not manage to complete the task, do not dwell on it. Try to understand what happened and take it as a learning for another day.

2. Focus on What You Can Give

The first thing you need to stop doing is negative thinking. It does not matter what others will think about you, instead try to focus on the value that you can put on the table! and believe me, there is so much that you can offer if you just manage to control and quiet down your thoughts.

3. Find A Mentor

Imagine if you had a time machine, and you can go back to relive the experience again, would you do things differently? This is what I personally see a mentor as. A person who went through the experience, learning or challenge and it now guiding you navigate through it. We are each unique, so your experience will end up being different than your mentor's. However, they will provide you with the encouragement, constructive criticism and support throughout the journey.

The next time you start feeling like an imposter, remember that you are not alone, and you are more than capable of taking on that exciting new challenge you have been working and developing your skills for.

sources:

5 Fundamental Things Leaders Can Do to Combat Imposter Syndrome

15 Ways To Overcome 'Imposter Syndrome' In The Workplace