The truth is that imposter syndrome can manifest in different people in different ways. Here are a couple of widely known symptoms suggesting that you may be suffering from this psychological pattern:<\/p>\n
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- You feel like a fraud<\/strong>\u2014you\u2019ve landed a great job, you\u2019ve received praise for your work, you may have even been awarded for your success, but instead of feeling happy, you feel like you\u2019re part of a great conspiracy. You feel like none of your achievements are earned through merit; it\u2019s all just a sham.<\/li>\n
- You discredit your worth<\/strong>\u2014you helped someone, provided them with a valuable service or guidance, but you refuse to receive praise or money for it.
\nYou have little to no confidence in your abilities or expertise\u2014you\u2019ve worked hard to learn and get better at what you do, but you refuse to see the value in your knowledge and skills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n![\"Imposter](\"https:\/\/www.teamly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Imposter-syndrome.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/span>Imposter syndrome\u2014the people<\/span><\/h2>\n
It\u2019s essential to underline that all people can be subject to this inability to internalize their success, regardless of gender or race.<\/p>\n
Valerie Young, an expert on the imposter syndrome, outlined five archetypes for people suffering from this self-directed bias in her book, The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women:<\/em><\/p>\n
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- Perfectionists<\/strong>\u2014people who set their standards extremely high and occasionally fail to deliver on their expectations. Despite typically being high performers and successful professionals, every failure for them feels like a personal disaster that ends up wiping out any inkling of confidence and self-worth.<\/li>\n
- Experts<\/strong>\u2014the people that are extremely passionate about learning and constantly expanding their skill sets. They hold themselves to a very high standard and typically won\u2019t apply for a job if they don\u2019t meet all the criteria in the job description. People that are part of this archetype are often uncomfortable asking questions in public in fear of being perceived as ignorant.<\/li>\n
- Natural geniuses<\/strong>\u2014they\u2019re gifted individuals that are used to learning and doing things with ease. However, when a task demands extra effort, they often feel like an imposter and feel shame if they haven\u2019t achieved it effortlessly.<\/li>\n
- Soloists<\/strong>\u2014people who fall into this category care a lot about who performed a task, sometimes more than how it was performed. They feel a constant urge to do things alone and are often ashamed of asking for help.
\nSupermen or superwomen\u2014they feel the urge to constantly push their boundaries to prove to themselves that they are not imposters. To them, it\u2019s imperative to be successful in all facets of life.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nHowever, you don\u2019t necessarily have to identify with one of these archetypes to experience the imposter syndrome. Fundamentally, we should keep in mind that this is a behavior pattern, and every single person can fall prey to it when they least expect it. Don\u2019t believe it? What if we told you that even extremely successful people such as Tina Fey, Tom Hanks, Maya Angelou, and Michelle Obama have had to deal with imposter syndrome at a certain point in the past?<\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter what we’ve done, there comes the point where you think, ‘How did I get here? When are they going to discover that I am, in fact, a fraud and take everything away from me?\u2019” \u2014 Tom Hanks.<\/em><\/p>\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.teamly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-deal-with-imposter-syndrome.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/span>How do I deal with imposter syndrome?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Now that we have a better idea of the ways this pattern can manifest itself, we can explore a variety of things that can help us manage it. More importantly, some of the recommendations below will help you learn more from your experiences and use them as a source of better self-understanding.<\/p>\n
<\/span>1. Start with a reality check<\/span><\/h2>\n
The first step you should take is to scrutinize your negative thoughts just as harshly as you scrutinize your own worth when these thoughts arise. You know, those thoughts that make you believe your coworkers think you\u2019re a fraud, and that you deserve none of your accomplishments.<\/p>\n
Before you let these ideas have any impact on you, recognize them as ideas and think of the reason they came to your mind. Take a step back and assess whether there\u2019s any reason to take them seriously.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also important to keep in mind that our emotional state can significantly affect the way we think and feel. Often, the anxiety associated with starting a challenging project can manifest as self-doubt.<\/p>\n
Whenever you feel this way about an upcoming challenge, remain mindful of the fact that this is just the way your brain reacts to it. You are the same knowledgeable and valuable person in your team\u2014and nobody can take that away from you.<\/p>\n
<\/span>2. Reach out<\/span><\/h2>\n
Another fairly simple way of dealing with imposter syndrome is to open up to a friend. It\u2019s essential to surround yourself with people that are there to help you when self-doubt strikes. Getting the support that you need in these situations is paramount.<\/p>\n
Also, consider opening up to a colleague you trust. If your self-doubt is work-related, they should have a better understanding of your field, as well as how hard you\u2019ve worked to earn your accomplishments.<\/p>\n
3. Keep track of your achievements<\/h3>\n
Reminding ourselves of our achievements isn\u2019t really something we learn to do at work. On the contrary, we\u2019re often too focused on the things we mess up.<\/p>\n
Consider creating a list of achievements and skills that you\u2019re particularly proud of, the things that make you a valuable part of your organization\u2014things that make you irreplaceable.<\/p>\n
If you want to take this a step further, consider creating a work journal. This practice has a wide array of benefits that range from improved creativity and confidence to reduced stress.<\/p>\n
![\"Keep](\"https:\/\/www.teamly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Keep-track-of-your-achievements.png\")
<\/p>\n4. Accept that you\u2019re human<\/h3>\n
One of the things that foster professional self-doubt is perfectionism and overworking. While there\u2019s nothing wrong with holding yourself to a high standard, it should be practiced in moderation.<\/p>\n
To continue being a valuable part of your collective, it\u2019s essential to maintain both your physical and mental health in check. Nobody wins if you end up burning out in the middle of an important project.<\/p>\n
Your goal is to accept that you\u2019re human and that you\u2019re more than a cog in a machine. Sometimes, you simply can\u2019t perform to the extent you\u2019re expected to. And you know what? That\u2019s totally fine.<\/p>\n
Make an effort to steer clear of the all-work-no-play paradigm. Take the time to practice self-acceptance and self-compassion\u2014and make sure not to feel guilty while doing so. Think of it as an investment in your future productivity.<\/p>\n
5. Choose confidence<\/h3>\n
Being confident isn\u2019t something you\u2019re born with\u2014it\u2019s a mood, it\u2019s a belief that you can succeed in what you\u2019ve set out to achieve. Choose to believe in yourself.<\/p>\n
Do small things that will help you revamp your self-confidence\u2014volunteer your expertise, help your colleagues, do whatever it takes to make yourself believe that you\u2019re a knowledgeable and valuable professional.<\/p>\n
6. Say your name aloud<\/h3>\n
Yes, talking to yourself in a supportive and affirmative manner is extremely helpful. And before you brush this off as weird, there\u2019s a huge body of research that supports this claim. A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology<\/em><\/span> called \u201cSelf-Talk as a Regulatory Mechanism: How You Do It Matters\u201d suggests that positive self-talk influences a person\u2019s ability to manage their thoughts and feelings during stressful periods\u2014this also includes people that are very vulnerable to social anxiety.<\/p>\n
There are so many kind things you can tell yourself. Give it a try and see what works best for you. Anything goes. At the end of the day, you\u2019re only saying these affirmations to yourself. Plus, it\u2019s okay to do unconventional things in the privacy of your own self, especially if they help you feel better.<\/p>\n
Need a couple of suggestions? Try these for starters, and feel free to tailor them to your individual needs:<\/p>\n
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- \u201cI\u2019m a valuable asset to my team.\u201d<\/li>\n
- \u201cI\u2019ve earned my accomplishments, and nobody can take them away from me.\u201d<\/li>\n
- \u201cI know what I\u2019m doing.\u201d<\/li>\n
- \u201cI may make mistakes once in a while, but that doesn\u2019t discount my worth.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Oh, and don\u2019t forget to add your name to these affirmations. Practicing this regularly will alleviate some of the effects of your imposter syndrome and help you manage it more efficiently.<\/p>\n
7. Don\u2019t compare yourself to others<\/h3>\n
Comparing yourself to others seems like a natural thing to do, especially due to our extensive use of social media.<\/p>\n
Most of us will, at a certain point, feel like all of the people around us have it together more than we do. Well, we\u2019re going to state the obvious\u2014it\u2019s not true. If other people\u2019s LinkedIn profiles make you feel like an imposter, don\u2019t fall for it. It\u2019s a game of smoke and mirrors. People\u2019s social media presence will almost never give you the full picture of how a person is really doing.<\/p>\n
Whenever you realize that you\u2019re comparing yourself to someone else, remind yourself that you only see what they want you to see. Everyone, absolutely everyone, feels vulnerable at a certain point in their lives. Everyone will, at some point, be consumed by self-doubt.<\/p>\n
Imposter syndrome isn\u2019t just about your self-confidence. It\u2019s also about the way you evaluate yourself\u2014and comparing yourself to others is beyond unhelpful and unproductive. As we mentioned above, setting the right standards is critical in dealing with self-doubt.<\/p>\n
<\/span>The take-home message<\/span><\/h2>\n
Opening up about your self-doubt isn\u2019t easy. To many, admitting that they feel as if they don\u2019t deserve their accomplishments is an arduous task, which makes getting help extremely complicated. The first step towards getting better is being honest with yourself. The second step is to share it with a person that you trust.<\/p>\n
The modern workplace has created a culture that values overachievers. Yet, the same culture does very little to create a safe, healthy, and open environment where people can speak out about their problems. As a result, people have no choice but to suffer in silence and often disregard their own wellbeing.<\/p>\n
Instead of being ashamed of how we feel and glorifying burning out, let\u2019s focus on accepting ourselves and moving forward with a healthier attitude toward our own worth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Have you ever felt like you don\u2019t really deserve your achievements? Or maybe that you just got lucky to be in the position you\u2019re in today? Oh, here\u2019s another one\u2014perhaps you\u2019re afraid that your colleagues will find out that you\u2019re an imposter enjoying the benefits of an unfairly earned role? These are common signs of … <\/p>\n
- Experts<\/strong>\u2014the people that are extremely passionate about learning and constantly expanding their skill sets. They hold themselves to a very high standard and typically won\u2019t apply for a job if they don\u2019t meet all the criteria in the job description. People that are part of this archetype are often uncomfortable asking questions in public in fear of being perceived as ignorant.<\/li>\n
- You discredit your worth<\/strong>\u2014you helped someone, provided them with a valuable service or guidance, but you refuse to receive praise or money for it.