Originally, psychologists Suzanne Imes and Rose Clance coined the term “imposter syndrome” to describe women with successful careers who chalked up their success to luck and concurrently discounted all their abiliites and achievements. But it wasn’t long before it was accepted that men suffered imposter syndrome just as often.
The main fear those with this syndrome deal with is somehow being found out as a fake by everyone. But the thing to remember is that Imposter Syndrome has an element of self-importance in it. To be effectively fear-making, your Imposter Syndrome needs to conveniently forget that everyone else is probably going through the same issue. But you do not suffer alone. With that in mind, here are nine ways of dealing with Imposter Syndrome in the office that will help you see your situation with more clarity and move forward.
1) Figure out what your imposter syndrome is stemming from– Did you just start a great new job or get a substantial promotion? Whatever the issue, something is causing you to doubt your qualifications. So figure out just where the feeling of being an imposter started in relation to your job, because it’s nearly impossible to right yourself if you don’t know the cause of your anxiety.
2) Reflect on your achievements in life so far– When you’re really feeling worried about your worth, try to take a step back and observe your history with some objectivity. You’ve made it this far, no doubt thanks to your smarts and your resourcefulness, so why would this new situation stop you? Is there any reason to assume your good qualities will fail you this time? Most likely the answer is “no.”
3) Remember that self-doubt is a species-wide issue– Here’s that ace in the hole: everyone else feels self-doubt just like you do, and everyone else wonders if they’re really deserving of whatever good things they’ve achieved in life. Most likely all the people you admire, all the people you’re hoping to emulate in your career… chances are they all felt self-doubt and some level of Imposter Syndrome. If they could succeed anyway, why exactly can’t you?
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4) Stop comparing yourself to others– Every one of us has taken our own series of steps, right and wrong, to get where we are. We may all be part of the brotherhood of humanity at the end of the day, but trying to compare the course of your life to someone else’s is a fool’s errand. The circumstances that led to where they are and the inner qualities that have helped them get by will not be the same for you, so expecting a similar outcome for yourself is a shaky proposition. Worry about yourself and leave them out of it: that’s probably the exact mindset they used on the road to their success.
5) Accept that Imposter Syndrome is all about success– Remember, you wouldn’t be dealing with this neurosis if you hadn’t managed to find some recent success, so when all else fails repeat to yourself that you must be doing well to have Imposter Syndrome to begin with.
6) Remember that you were chosen for a reason– Okay, fine, you can’t get over your fear that you won’t be able to cut it. That’s the time to remind yourself that much of the process of your advancement was out of your hands. Other people decided that you were their choice for that promotion or that great new job. If you can’t trust yourself, trust their judgment. They’re the ones that chose you, and it’s a fair assumption that they knew what they were looking for and found it in you.
7) Drop the perfectionism– Perfectionism is more a curse than a superpower, and many a fine mind has been lost forever in the mire while trying to get everything exactly right all the time, all to prove how brilliant they are. But the smartest people know that consistently solid and thorough work is a far more reasonable expectation than perfection every time. Perfection, anyway, is a subjective thing. Persistent competence is not.
8) Fake it until you make it– If you can keep a lid on your worries, chances are that will be the extent of your flailing as far as everyone else knows. You’re judged by your exterior and your actions, and nobody can read your mind. So act like you’re the deserving choice until you really feel like you are.
9) Be grateful and mindful– Never forget the things you do have, the strong traits you’ve developed and the fine achievements of your life. Imposter Syndrome is often largely make-believe, but your life is real. So calm down, center yourself, love yourself, and get to work. They picked you for a reason, so show them what you can do!
