Knowing how to overcome imposter syndrome will help you in any career
Knowing how to overcome imposter syndrome will help you in any career. When going to work, you should feel like you deserve to be there. You work hard, give it your all and get through each day. However, sometimes you may feel like you don’t fit in at all or that people think you’re an outsider.
What is Imposter Syndrome? Learning how to overcome imposter syndrome begins with understanding it. Overall, it’s an internal experience of believing you are not as worthy, deserving or skilled as you actually are. Your peers may think you’re superior to them when it comes to your knowledge and place at work, but you don’t think this could possibly be true. You feel like you’re ‘just winging it’, as you got where you are by pure luck Why does Imposter Syndrome Happen? No one wants to feel like they’re not good enough to carry out their role (I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy). This often grows from thoughts of self-doubt and social anxiety, causing paranoia of being found out that you’re not good at your job. This may come from being set goals that you fall short of or struggle to complete in time, even though you’re trying your best. Overachieving can also be a sign of imposter syndrome, as you feel like you have to constantly live up to the expectations you’ve given yourself. How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome Separate Feelings From Facts In a stressful work environment, we often think things over so many times that they become factual to us. Therefore, it’s essential to separate feelings from facts. The inadequacy you’re feeling is more than natural, but it doesn’t make it the truth. Getting into the habit of creating a border between feelings and facts will take time and practice, but it’s the most important step into overcoming imposter syndrome. Focus on Positive Thought Patterns Focusing on positive thought patterns will help you transform negative feelings into productive energy. Rather than questioning your worth, highlight your strengths. You can do this by setting a boundary in your head. Whenever you sense negative thoughts creeping up on you, don’t give it time to sink in. Instead, speak kindly to yourself and respect your feelings. Remember What You Can Add During meetings, emails and any point in the working day, remember what you can add. You’ve been hired because you bring an element to the team that someone else doesn’t. It’s important to take time to think about this, rather than concentrating on what you don’t have. If everyone in a team was the same, there would be constant agreements and no true opinions or skills shared! Life is about learning from others and taking snippets of their knowledge. Have you ever considered that you may be inspiring other people? Normalise Failure We often grimace at the thought of failure or disappointing fellow employees. But, you’re not going to get through life without learning any lessons - big or small. At work, normalise failure rather than punishing yourself for things not always going to plan. Just like a marketing campaign, it shows how you can improve in future. Feed yourself ways to win next time, rather than dwelling on what you should’ve done to make a past project successful. You’re Never Alone With Imposter Syndrome Funnily enough, your co-workers have probably experienced imposter syndrome at some point too. Whether it’s within their past, present or future role, everyone feels like they don’t belong sometimes. No matter how long the feeling lasts, you’re never alone with imposter syndrome. Your thoughts are valid, and you deserve to be heard. You’ve got this! Lauren x
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