Imposter Syndrome
Growing up, I was always told that as long as I was trying my best, I was doing enough. This mentality lasted a while, pushing me to do more, always seeking what my “best” really was. As time moved forward, this mentality became less effective. I grew older, and with age came greater consideration of the world around me, and with greater consideration came more doubt. I began to lose track of what my best really was, always feeling unsure as to whether I was doing the right things in the right ways. As these feelings of doubt and insecurity rose, so did the feeling of isolation. I couldn’t imagine anyone else felt this way, like they were always somehow in the wrong spot, even if deep down, they knew it to be untrue?
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It wasn’t until I came to UNH that I found an explanation for this cycle of doubt, specifically in reading Lean In for Graduates by Sheryl Sandberg. In this book, Sandberg details many elements of those feelings of inadequacy and anecdotes to combat those feelings in order to maximize experiences as a young leader. In the portion of her book regarding imposter syndrome, Sandberg shared a story about students in medical school, stating that, “assessments of students on a surgery rotation found that when asked to evaluate themselves, the female students gave themselves lower scores than the male students despite faculty evaluations that showed the women outperformed the men [1].” As soon as I?read this in her book, it clicked; other people feel this way, and I am not alone.?
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There are people out there that argue the validity of imposter syndrome, often claiming that the feelings of doubt brought on by the syndrome can be fought [2]. While it is true that increased awareness of imposter syndrome can help minimize its impact, it doesn’t mean it will completely go away and stop existing. The reality is that women are often put to a standard separate from men, with the expectation that a woman must go above and beyond to be seen as just as qualified as a man that should be seen as her equal [3]. With a mindset like this, it is easy to feel inadequate, which is why changes must be made to help combat imposter syndrome as much as possible.?
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In order to make imposter syndrome nonexistent, we would need to see a complete systemic change in the way individuals of different identities are viewed. Without this change, an underlying perception about the individuals, specifically those that are marginalized, will continue to exist. Since this is not a task easy to complete, the best ways to navigate imposter syndrome on a smaller scale are to increase awareness and inspire this change [4]. The more people exposed to and aware of imposter syndrome, the more people will be able to fight these feelings. In addition, the best way to inspire change in this area is to be an ally to those around you. Help others navigate their feelings of doubt, and encourage confidence.?
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Now, two years since first learning that the unexplained feelings I had been failing to navigate had a name, I am working every day to combat them. I have seen myself step further outside of my comfort zone, just as I did as a child, before becoming aware of the perceptions of the world around me. My experiences with imposter syndrome haven’t completely gone away, but I now am able to better recognize the signs, and utilize the skills and support network I have developed to combat them. Hopefully, as I grow older, with age will come more self-reflection, and with self-reflection will come more confidence and success.?
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Dean Paul College of Business and Economics University of New Hampshire
1 年Great insight Charlotte Butterfield #paulpride #rutmanfellows
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education at University of New Hampshire Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics
1 年Nicely written Charlotte Butterfield !!!