Imposter Syndrome is a name given to a condition where a person feels some anxiety and self-doubt that leads to feeling a lack of confidence in their skills and abilities.
Where did this catchy name, Imposter Syndrome come from? Pauline Clance and Dr.Suzanne Imes first coined the term “impostor syndrome” when they published “The Impostor Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention” in 1978. Simply put, you feel like an imposter, a fake, that you do not have the real stuff behind what you do, and that you are a fraud. You fear being found out that you are less than what you portray yourself to be. Even worse, you may fear being shamed. You can feel quite scared for such a long time, the imposter feeling becomes habitual. You spend energy to cover your tracks and eventually you lose sight of who you truly are. It is hard to find a way out.
I attended a LinkedIn sponsored event on Imposter Syndrome with guest, Shivani Berry, CEO & Founder of Arise Leadership. Remarkably, 28,988 people planned to attend this watershed event. I found it amazing that so many people, thousands of people identify with the Imposter Syndrome. Many admitted they experience this level of doubt in themselves and were there looking for quick fixes.
Is there a quick fix for the Imposter Syndrome? Not really, but there are steps you can take right now to help ease how you feel about yourself. Here are just a few.
- Watch your mind. Mindfulness is key to keeping your thoughts and emotions in check. Be aware of the situations where imposter-feelings come up.
- Watch your negative self-talk. Repeating bad things about yourself only reinforces negative belief patterns.
- Don’t make things up that are not true. Check the facts before assuming you are the cause of any difficulties around you. There may be some validity behind your feelings.
- Say positive affirmations. Support and encourage yourself as you go through the rough periods.
- Set expectations in advance to reduce perceived negative impacts of your work. Develop flexibility, knowing there are many potential outcomes, not just negative ones.
- Hang out with people who know you, validate you and celebrate who you really are.
- Acknowledge all your successes, no matter what size. Self-validation is a great way to counter feelings of living in a vacuum of self-doubt.
With a few steps towards building a healthier outlook, the imposter-self will dissolve, and your self-assurance will return. You are special and unique, and you can shine on your own merit.
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