Struggling with imposter syndrome while aiming to be a thought leader?

IS often stems from company culture and environment. As a result, while of course anyone can suffer from this condition, it particularly impacts women and people of color in white collar careers. Bias and discrimination, whether in their current company or in previous experiences, can strengthen this obstacle, as can micro-aggression, lack of appreciation/recognition and lack of inclusion.

IS is a real confidence killer. It makes you doubt yourself..even when others recognize your talents. It's like a little voice inside your head that constantly questions your worth and achievements. Here's how you might recognize it - You might downplay your successes - attributing them to luck - You might feel like you're constantly on the verge of being exposed as a fraud (sometimes may be) To overcome IS, one should try to recognize, reframe, and replace your doubts with evidence of your accomplishments.

Dealing with impostor syndrome while working towards becoming a thought leader can be challenging. It's important to remember that many successful individuals experience similar feelings. Remind yourself of your accomplishments and unique perspective, and seek support from others who can encourage and validate your efforts.

There are different types of Imposters, and it'll help you to figure out which one (or mix) you are: 1) The Natural Genius: If this doesn't come naturally to me without practice, I'm not good enough 2) The Expert: I should know every single thing about this, every piece of information and research that exists about this 3) The Superhuman: I may be good at this one thing, but I have other things I'm not good at, so I am really not that great 4) The Solist: If I need to ask for help and support, then that doesn't count as being great 5) The Perfectionist: Anything less than absolute perfect is just not cutting it

Acknowledging and celebrating your successes can help shift your mindset. Here are some strategies to overcome imposter syndrome and recognize your achievements: Document Your Successes: Keep a journal or record of your accomplishments, big and small. Reflecting on these can remind you of your progress and capabilities. Celebrate Milestones: Take time to celebrate your achievements.Acknowledging these milestones reinforces your growth and competence. Share Your Journey: Talk about your experiences, challenges, and victories openly. Sharing your story can not only help others but also affirm your expertise and credibility. Visualize Your Impact: Regularly remind yourself of the positive impact you’re making in your field.

If you struggle with Imposter Phenomenon, it's likely that you find it hard to acknowledge successes. This is because there's a strong link between feeling like an imposter and for example procrastination or overpreparing. The fear of not being able to perform well leads to either postponing the preparation (setting yourself up for failure) or working day and night to prepare. Then after any success you'll likely tell yourself: "I got lucky" (if you procrastinated) or "I worked super hard" (when you overprepared). It's important to realize this and be aware of it, only then can you really start allowing yourself to see your true successes.

Peer support can make a big difference. Here are some strategies to help you overcome these feelings: Share Your Concerns: Open up to your peers or a trusted mentor about your imposter syndrome. Sometimes, just talking about it can help you gain perspective and realize you're not alone in your struggles. Seek Constructive Feedback: Engage with peers to get honest feedback on your ideas and work. Constructive feedback can help you improve and validate your contributions, reinforcing your belief in your capabilities. Join a Support Group: Consider joining or forming a group with others who are also aiming to become thought leaders. Sharing experiences and strategies can provide mutual encouragement and insights.

Support is great to help you put things in perspective. People who struggle with Imposter Phenomenon tend to underestimate how much work others have to put in to be successful. They tend to assume things come naturally for others, where they themselves have to work extra hard. As you seek support and have conversations with peers, try asking them about how much effort they put in, and make sure you push a bit through the "keeping up appearances" part. Supportive peers will be honest with you how much work they put in. And that should tell you that nothing comes easily to anyone without practice. So just put in the practice!

Change Your Perspective on Failure -From Defeat to Learning: View failure not as a reflection of your inadequacy, but as an opportunity to learn and grow. Each setback provides valuable insights that help refine your approach and strategy. -From Negative to Neutral: Instead of seeing failure as a personal shortcoming, consider it a neutral event. It’s an outcome of a specific set of actions and circumstances, not a judgment of your worth. Redefine Success and Failure -Set Realistic Goals: Understand that thought leadership is a journey, not a destination. Break down your goals into smaller, manageable milestones. -Focus on Effort, Not Just Outcome: Value the effort and progress you’re making rather than just the end result.

Tom Bilyeu posted a great Tweet about this: "EXPERIENCE, and FAILURE in particular, is the most data-rich information source you will ever encounter. Don’t waste time with embarrassment or shame or self-judgment - just find the lesson. Failure is a small price to pay for wisdom."

From young age we've been told that failure is bad. The thing is, not all failure is bad. Amy Edmondson's work on this is fantastic. She tells us to distinguish blameworthy failure, those mistakes that could have been prevented, from praise-worthy failure, the kind of intelligent mistakes that lead to innovation and breakthrough. When things go different from what you planned, ask yourself whether this was something preventable, or whether this was something that you learned from, an intelligent mistake, and move forward from there. Somewhere in the middle lies the complex mistake, which is more and more common in our integrated world full of technology and disruption.

Sharing genuine experiences, along with challenges and solutions, benefits both you and your audience: Showcase real-world expertise: Share knowledge gained from your personal journey, making your insights more relatable. Reveal vulnerability: Self-awareness and humility humanize your leadership, resonating with audiences on a deeper level. Debunk leadership myths: Authentic sharing challenges the concept of the "perfect" leader, fostering realistic expectations. Support inclusivity: Genuine leadership styles pave the way for a diverse and inclusive understanding of leadership.

Be confident in yourself and be proud of all your hard work and accomplishments. The biggest detractor in imposter syndrome is one's self-doubt. Breathe, tell yourself you got this, move forward with confidence, and have fun! And also be mindful of surrounding yourself with promoters who want to prop you up, and not detractors that judge you and want to bring you down. Having a growth mindset is also another great weapon again imposter syndrome!

Most of us have faced imposter syndrome at one point or another. It resurfaces when someone questions your credibility even though you have multiple successes to outweigh it. Take the criticism as feedback and learnings. Then move on to continuing to be great!