Do You Have an Imposter Mindset?

Name something you know you are good at, AND you feel your employer sees too.  If nothing comes to mind, you may be experiencing imposter syndrome. 
 
Imposter syndrome includes feeling inadequate based on the belief you got where you are in your work and career by luck and don’t really deserve to be there.
 
In short, you have no meaningful connection to your talent or qualifications.
 
And you are not alone.  A whopping 70% of people feel this way at some point in their career.
 
Which explains why there is enough of a “sample size” to see 5 distinct types of “imposters”.  Dr. Valerie Young, author of The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from the Impostor Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It, has defined them as:

• The expert will not be satisfied when finishing a task until they feel that they know everything about the subject. The time spent searching for information can make it hard to complete tasks and projects.
• The perfectionist experiences high levels of anxiety, doubt, and worry, especially when they set themselves extreme goals that they are unable to achieve. A perfectionist will focus on areas where they could have done better rather than celebrate their achievements.
• Natural geniuses master many new skills quickly and easily, and they may feel ashamed and weak when faced with a goal that is too hard. Learning that everyone needs to struggle to achieve some goals may help.
• The soloist, or “rugged individualist,” prefers to work alone, fearing that asking for help will reveal incompetence. The person may turn down help in an attempt to prove their self-worth.
• Superheroes often excel due to extreme effort, as in “workaholism.” This can lead to burnout, which can affect physical and mental well-being and relationships with others.

 
See anyone you know?  
 
There are many reasons for feeling like you don’t belong in your job, not all of them have to do with your workplace.  It can start in childhood with parental expectations, or because you are facing new challenges (like pursuing higher education), people from marginalized groups are also at a higher risk for imposter syndrome. 
 
What is clear is how it impacts your well-being.  Feeling like a fraud leads to frustration, anxiety, depleted self-confidence, which can turn into depression and other long-term impacts to your health and welfare.  Nonexistent coping strategies perpetuate imposter syndrome, and over time the effects to your self-esteem snowball until you don’t pursue promotion and opportunities to grow your expertise, or you expect perfection from yourself (constantly chasing it).  The end result is you don’t feel you measure up because you set yourself up to never measure up.
 
There’s some good news, imposter syndrome isn’t a medical diagnosis, it is a mindset, which means there are things you can do right now to work with feelings of inadequacy so they don’t run the show.
 
Here are four strategies to recognize, and work with, imposter syndrome:

• Consider a growth mindset:  Knowing you can always grow and evolve your talents (rather than seeing them as set in stone) keeps imposter syndrome at bay.  Sure, you will make mistakes (we all do), but knowing what you can learn from those mistakes is what sets people without imposter syndrome apart from those that have it.  If you believe you will always be “bad” at something, then it’s more likely to happen.  If you see how you are not as good at something as you would like to be yet, you’ll leave yourself room to grow and get better at doing it.
• Notice your self-talk:  What is the chatter in your mind when you feel inadequate at work?  Simply put, how mean are you when you talk to yourself (i.e. your inside voice)?  Make a note of all the times you mentally put yourself down each day.  Then, when you have this number, do it less often during the day (every little bit counts with this exercise).  You can’t succeed when you are your own worst enemy.
• Collect your accolades:  Yes, you have accolades.  Make a folder for all the times someone thanked you (no, they were not just being “nice”, it takes effort to type out a thank-you note or to remember to do it in person).  You may not be up for an award, but every day your work makes a difference, and there will be times when others are grateful for, or notice, your good work (and you should too).  Make a folder for the compliments and gratitude you receive (at work and in life).  When shame and doubt creep in, read what is in this folder and let it touch you; do you write a complimentary/thank-you e-mail because you’re being nice or because you mean it?  Exactly.
• Talk to others:  Remember, 70% of professionals have experienced imposter syndrome at some point, so speaking with others can help you see that you are not alone. The power of imposter syndrome lies in only looking at (or believing in) the negative.  Speaking with others (like a trusted friend, therapist or a coach) can help bring perspective to your gifts and impact, so you can own all of what you bring to your work.

 
There will always be times when you think negatively of yourself or your performance at work. See what you can do to observe this thought, rather than believe it is accurate.  Take a pause to see how that thought is sabotaging your self-esteem to recognize, and step away from, feelings of imposter syndrome.

​Would you like to see an example?  This is how I ditched imposter syndrome.

Is Imposter Syndrome Mindset holding you back?  I can help.

Book Your Free Session Now