Imposter syndrome: What it is and how to overcome it

Hello!

Have you ever been praised for a project, received a hard-earned promotion, or lauded for your expertise–and just felt like you didn’t deserve it? If so, you may have experienced imposter syndrome, an all-too-common psychological pattern where someone feels undeserving of their achievements and thinks they’re merely faking their success. 

Imposter syndrome isn’t a clinical diagnosis, but research suggests that most people suffer from it at some point in their professional lives. According to one study, the phenomenon may impact as many as 82% of people, leading to impaired job performance, lowered job satisfaction, and a greater likelihood of burnout. It’s a phenomenon that can impact anyone, regardless of whether you’re a CEO, manager, or intern. 

Fortunately, there are some ways to combat this pernicious mindset. Today, we’re taking a closer look at imposter syndrome and some strategies for overcoming it. 

🥸What is imposter syndrome? 

Imposter syndrome is an overwhelming sense that you haven’t earned your position and that, at any moment, you’ll be unmasked as a “fraud” who isn’t any good at your job. Ironically, the more someone with imposter syndrome achieves at work, the more unworthy they feel. It’s a vicious cycle of self-doubt, recrimination, and shame that can really negatively impact how you feel about yourself, your career, and your abilities. 

While there is no one cause of imposter syndrome, those who experience it tend to subject themselves to intense self-criticism and set particularly high expectations that obscure their real-world accomplishments. 

Imposter syndrome doesn’t look the same in everyone. Nonetheless, some common symptoms include: 

• Persistent self-doubt 
• Low confidence
• Constant comparison to others 
• Fear of failure
• Feeling like a fraud
• People-pleasing 
• Perfectionism
• Unreasonable fear of making mistakes

🦸How to overcome imposter syndrome

If you’ve been dealing with imposter syndrome, first know that you’re not alone. As mentioned above, imposter syndrome is a very, very common feeling that countless people experience– including many whom others see as successful! 

Here’s the good news: With self-awareness, you can overcome imposter syndrome. Here are some steps you can take to deal with this common psychological pattern: 

1. Share your feelings. Opening up to a trusted friend, colleague, or mentor about your self-critical feelings can help diminish them. 

2. Practice self-compassion. Notice when your inner critic is being negative and setting unrealistic expectations. Instead of judging yourself for these thoughts, acknowledge them. Then, reframe them into a more positive, realistic version that a friend might say. 

3. Focus on your strengths. Recognize your strengths by writing them down and then reviewing them periodically to remind yourself of your accomplishments.

4. Avoid comparisons. Comparing your weaknesses with another person’s strengths isn’t a fair judgment. Instead, remind yourself that everyone has particular strengths and weaknesses and that growth is possible with time and effort. 

5. Celebrate your successes. Rather than brush off your achievements, celebrate and recognize them so that you can recall them when you’re feeling low. 

6. Seek help. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by imposter syndrome, consider seeking expert insight and guidance from a trained mental health professional. 

🌞Reset your mindset

Maintaining your mental health is an important element of excelling in your career. Learn more about what you can do to feel your best on the job through one of these courses: 

For insights on how to learn and change effectively, try McMaster University’s Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential course.

For tips on leading a purposeful life, explore the University of Michigan’s Finding Purpose and Meaning In Life: Living for What Matters Most course. 

To learn tools that can help you perform at your best, enroll in the University of Colorado, Boulder’s Principles of Leadership: Leading Oneself Specialization.

For tools and techniques to succeed at home and work, consider the University of Pennsylvania’s Achieving Personal and Professional Success Specialization.

Okay, that’s all we’ve got for today. If you’re up to it, we’d love to hear any tips you might have for dealing with imposter syndrome in the workplace. Thanks for reading, and see you next week! 

Have a career question you’d like us to answer next? Share it below. And, as always, we welcome YOUR advice and experience in the comments.