Break Free From Imposter Syndrome

"We suffer more often in imagination than in reality” — Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Imposter Syndrome is the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills. Those who struggle with imposter syndrome will experience high levels of self-doubt. This in turn causes those with imposter syndrome to doubt that their skills, capacity and intelligence actually got them to where they are in their career. Instead those with imposter syndrome will start to think that their success is a result of pure luck or people misjudging their competency.

According to Psychology Today, research shows that around 25 to 30 percent of high achievers may suffer from imposter syndrome and around 70 percent of adults may experience this phenomenon at least once in their lifetime.

At some point in my career, I struggled with imposter syndrome and found myself asking myself how I can shift my mindset out of that headspace. These specific questions targeted the root of imposter syndrome which I believe steams from hidden fear. This fear causes you to doubt your own capabilities, particularly, when you compare yourself to your industry peers. Two questions that can help you begin the journey of navigating yourself out of this space are:

1. How do you shift from operating from a place of fear/uncertainty and start functioning confidently within your strengths?

   OR

2. How can you overcome self doubt/imposter syndrome and start showing up fully aware that your skills, knowledge and capacity have contributed to the success that you are currently experiencing?

   
   

I have always being a huge proponent of setting goals and having a clear direction of where one wants to head in life. It only makes sense to have a vision that will act as a compass for the decisions you make and the direction you choose to take in this intricate web called life. Now, a few years ago, as I was scouring the internet for inspiration and motivation, I stumbled upon a Ted-talk by Tim Ferriss titled “Why you should define your fears and not your goals”. I found the thought of defining my fears instead of my goals quite fascinating and after watching this video a few times, I found myself digging deeper into a rabbit of hole of stoicism, fear setting and confronting self-doubt.

Because all of us at some point are confronted with the fear of failure, self-doubt, comparison as well as the fear induced by the happenings of the world around us, it is absolutely important that we ground those fears in reality and on the possibilities of the success we might very likely experience when we move forward with hope and courage. Additionally, we need to assess the cost of inaction and what it might mean not just for ourselves but for those around us. One thing is for sure, confronting your fears is a necessary step in living out your full potential and a step forward in combating imposter syndrome.

“Don’t ever make decisions based on fear. Make decisions based on hope and possibility. Make decisions based on what should happen, not what shouldn’t” — Michelle Obama

Once you understand your fears and doubts it is easy to dispel myths about your success and why/how you attained this success. Whilst fear setting is important to overcoming the fears and doubts about yourself, I believe that equally and perhaps even more important is the necessity of operating within your strengths. Knowing and understanding your strengths is crucial in ensuring that you show up as your best self within the work environment. When self-doubt and fears arise because of comparison or gaps in knowledge/skills; operating within your strengths places that which comes naturally to you at the forefront and forces you to focus on what you are good at rather than what you might or might not lack. If you are unsure of what your strengths are, consider taking the CliftonStrengths assessment. Link below.

https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspx?source=post_page-----842f70250d1b---------------------------------------

Below are a few tips that will help you overcome imposter syndrome:

1. Do not compare yourself to others, instead focus on your strengths and on improving your capabilities.

2. Keep a work journal where you jot down all your accomplishments.

3. Keep a “WINS” folder, where you save positive emails and notes from your peers/line managers praising your accomplishments.

4. Stay grounded in reality and remind yourself that imposter syndrome is largely a feeling. These feelings are just emotions that need to be rooted in reality. Find the cause of the emotion and tackle it head on either by reminding yourself of your accomplishments and what you have proven to be capable of and/or putting a plan in place to upskill yourself in areas where you have room to grow.

5. Talk to a trusted friend, family member, colleague or therapist about the feeling of being an imposter, sometimes talking it out can help you clear your headset and set you on the right path

FN

"In Him we live & breathe & have our being"