Successful and high-achieving professionals are often unable to feel a sense of accomplishment despite all of their career success.
In the book, “Neuroscience for Leadership,” neuroscientist Tara Swart defines this phenomenon as impostor syndrome. She said it is “not a true psychological syndrome, but a name for a feeling that one isn’t sufficiently competent or expert enough to be in the position one is in, and/or that one does not deserve being appointed to a higher role. One’s successes are often self-attributed to luck or mistakes by others, rather than one’s skill, hard work or expertise.”
Impostor syndrome is a real struggle felt on a daily basis by many high-achieving women and men. It’s estimated that 70 percent of people will experience it at some point in their life or career.
Perfectionism, self-doubt and fear of failure all foster increased impostor syndrome.
Self-doubt is driven by fear that one will be discovered as a fraud. Colleagues will find out they don’t know all the answers, that they are not smart enough or not good enough. They can’t do it all. And the list of fears goes on and on. Plus, these feelings often leave the person feeling isolated and like they are the only one feeling this way.
Over time, impostor syndrome can cause low self-confidence, stress, anxiety, shame and in some cases, depression. It can hold high achievers back from taking risks, growing and showing up in new ways.
Has impostor syndrome ever held you back? Can you relate to any of these common impostor situations or thoughts?
You are so excited you got the big promotion that you’ve been working so hard for, but you tell others you were just lucky and had good timing.
You are asked to speak at the company’s annual meeting but you are worried that others will think you aren’t qualified.
Or maybe, it’s that quiet voice inside your mind always telling you:
“You’re going to be found out for being a fraud.”
“Who are you to be a vice president?”
“You’re not good enough.”
“You have no idea what you are doing.”
Awareness of these feelings and naming them can help you manage the conflicting feelings of confidence simultaneously with self-doubt.
Here’s what you can do if you are experiencing some of these impostor symptoms:
Build trust within yourself. Trust that you are in your role for a reason. Have confidence in your ability and step up – flaws and all. Build an amazing team that can support you. Give yourself permission to not know all the answers and be open to figuring it out together.
Stand in your success. Gather specific evidence that highlights your performance. Write a list of your achievements, skills and successes. Think about situations where you have faced big challenges and overcome them. Creating this accurate assessment of your performance will help your successes feel real.
Seek feedback. Gather feedback from others – above you, next to you and below you. Others are far more objective than you are capable of being with yourself. This feedback can help you see strengths you are unaware of and recognize your value.
As you grow in your career, it’s important to realize that this impostor syndrome might always be there, around the corner, waiting to show up. Embrace the feelings, and know that you are pushing your limits and embarking on greater accomplishments. Keep stepping outside of your comfort zone and taking risks. You are making a difference, and you are worthy!
Beilsmith is an executive coach and professional development expert recognized for helping high–achieving professionals, teams and leaders reach their true potential through coaching, training and assessments. Visit jennybeilsmith.com for more information.
