How to overcome Imposter Syndrome
- Nadine Wessel
- Sep 6, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 22, 2021
Have you achieved a goal, only to then feel that you are second guessing yourself and at the extreme feel paralysed to move forward. The Imposter Syndrome is usually first encountered when starting something new. Be it a new job, a new team, or a new activity. It is often quite natural for us mere mortals to experience. It is a by-product of change.
When starting a new job many years ago, I remember stepping into the meeting room, with that big intimidating boardroom table. Everyone had their seat at the table and I didn’t know where to sit. I didn’t confidently walk into the room, I felt scared and alone. I also felt that everyone was watching my every move, a test almost, or a scene out of Mean Girls. This was completely in my head. No one was keeping score, if anything they were preoccupied with their own busyness and dramas of the day.
The Imposter Syndrome does not have a magic pill to cure it. Depending on the severity of this TEMPORARY condition, the good news is that you can - and will - overcome it.
The following are a few quick techniques push past the Imposter Syndrome.
Talk to a friend, family or someone you trust about how you feel. If you are so inclined, have a cry, let it out, your friend will hopefully point out all the completely irrational assumptions you are making.
Do some affirmations, yes, these may sound very wanky, but they work. They are stronger when you speak out loud. I will often just pop on the headphones and listen to affirmations, those starting with “I am, I will.. etc” are very powerful. This is a great tool for getting into the subconscious mind.
List out why you are here, you had the vision and took the steps to start the new job, team, or activity. You didn’t get here by faking it, remind yourself of the end goal to stay focussed. There are lots of different motivational quotes I can apply, but really, sometime life gets hard, you adapt and grow, life gets easier. This too shall pass (ok couldn’t help myself with that, buy yourself a mug if you need a reminder).
Often the Imposter Syndrome is fed by the illogical thoughts in your own head, if you step back, it looks like paranoia. When you notice these thoughts and any physiological signs (shallow breathing, heart racing, feeling hot).
Then it is up to you to talk yourself off the cliff. You deserve to be at big boardroom table. You deserve to show up as your best self every day. You deserve to have a new job, team, or start the new activity and have fun doing it.
End note: I asked future hubby to proof these, he said “I think this is a very female thing, so I can’t really offer a point of view”. He is right. There have been many studies that prove the Imposter Syndrome is more common in women. In a study conducted by School for CEO’s[1], they found that 54% of women scored frequent or high Imposter Syndrome versus 24% of men. It is also more common in the age group of 24-44 which is what you’d expect when women are climbing the ranks!
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[1] School for CEOs, “Overcoming Imposter Feeling – How senior executives manage their insecurities” Edinburgh, UK 2019
