Have you ever felt like a fraud in a new role, despite having fought hard for it and knowing you’d earned it? Imposter syndrome, as this feeling is often named, is a common experience for many at various stages of their career. This article discusses why these feelings may come up, and provides some strategies to help overcome them so that you can get closer to thriving in your new role.
The Paradox
You spend weeks, months, even years planning and building up to that promotion or new role. Then you get the fantastic news that you got it, and soon it’s day one. Then your inner voice pops up with one or more of the following unhelpful thoughts….
- Everyone else is better than me.
- Why did they think I could do this role?
- I’m not as good as they think I am.
- I’m going to get found out!
Sound familiar? But why do we feel this way, and what can we do about it? How do we not let it steal the joy of our progression?
Understanding Imposter Syndrome
Imposter syndrome could be described as a persistent feeling of being a fraud despite evident success and accomplishments. It’s that nagging voice in your head that tells you that you don’t deserve your achievements. High achievers often find it hard to truly believe their success.
Why We Experience Imposter Syndrome
- Perfectionism: Setting excessively high standards can make us feel like we’re not good enough. If we don’t achieve these standards or make an impact in short order, we may perceive ourselves as having failed somehow, often then leading to feelings of inadequacy.
- Comparison: In the age of social media, it’s too easy to compare ourselves to others, and often we’re comparing ourselves to those who may have been in a role for longer or who have had a different journey. It’s also important to remind ourselves that what we see probably isn’t the full picture.
- Lack of Familiarity: Stepping into a new role or taking on new responsibilities means we are often moving from the familiar environment of our previous role, into an unfamiliar one. We don’t properly know how things work yet – whether it’s the coffee machine or the team dynamics.
- Stereotypes and Bias: Even if on the surface all seems good, we may feel implicit biases or stereotypes at play, especially if we are a minority. This can exacerbate our feelings of being an outsider, increasing the likelihood of imposter syndrome.
Strategies for Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
- Acknowledge Your Feelings: The first step to overcoming imposter syndrome is recognising it. Acknowledge your thoughts and feelings and try not to judge yourself. Stepping back and trying to take a more objective viewpoint about those feelings and why they are there can help you start to challenge your less helpful thought patterns and take some positive action.
- Reframe Your Thoughts: Instead of thinking, “I’m not good enough,” try to reframe it to, “I’m learning and growing.” Recognise that making mistakes is a core part of the learning process. (Think about how you treat a new person on your team – I bet you don’t expect them to be fully up to speed on day one). Reframe challenges as opportunities for growth.
- Celebrate Your Achievements: Keep a record of your successes, however big or small, and any positive feedback you’ve received or good meetings you’ve had. Look at this when you need to pick yourself up – it will accumulate over time and help you see your journey and how far you have come over a longer period of time!
- Seek Support: Talk to your mentor, coach, or supportive colleagues about your feelings. They can hopefully offer perspective, encouragement, and advice. If you feel you need additional support, take action to get it. E.g. if you’ve identified a knowledge gap, find out who can help and ask for some mentoring. If you want objective external support where you can talk freely, engage a coach.
A question to reflect on
If you’re still struggling to fully embrace how you have got to where you are today and to really own your success and progress, consider this question:
“If you were as kind to yourself as you are to your friends, how would you describe yourself and your accomplishments?”