Have you ever felt like you are not good enough to do the job you’ve been hired to do? Or maybe you feel you are not capable of excellence in that course you’ve enrolled in?

Do you know many high achievers share this little secret? Deep down they feel like complete frauds–doubting their accomplishments and hoping not to be caught.

Even after writing 11 books and winning several prestigious awards, Maya Angelou couldn’t escape the nagging doubt that she hadn’t earned her accomplishment. “I’ve run a game on everybody and they are going to find me out”

Abraham Einstein describes himself as an “involuntary swindler” whose work doesn’t deserve as much attention as it had received.

In today’s post, we will examine imposter syndrome: what it is, how it can limit your potential and strategies to help you overcome it.

WHAT IS IMPOSTER SYNDROME?

Now about what imposter syndrome is, you may be surprised to know that 70% of people live with imposter syndrome. It is an internal experience of believing that you are not as competent as others perceive you to be.

To put it simply, it is the experience of feeling like a deceiver—you feel as though at any moment you are going to be found out as a fraud—like you don't belong where you are, and you only got there through dumb luck. It can affect anyone no matter their social status, work background, skill level, or degree of expertise.

It isn’t a diagnosis or a medical problem but rather a pattern of thinking that can lead to self-doubt, negative self-talk and missed opportunities.

Let's dive into the negative impact of imposter syndrome

HOW CAN IMPOSTER SYNDROME LIMIT MY POTENTIAL?

Feelings of self-doubt can create fear, anxiety, and stress. It can lead to a drop in job performance and job satisfaction while increasing burnout.

Imposter syndrome can negatively affect your personal and work life in the following ways:

1. It creates self-doubt and low self-esteem

People will reject praise, downplay achievements and allow others to take the acclaim. They feel incompetent, unloved or inadequate. They also lack confidence in who they are and what they can do

2. Impedes Career Growth

Sufferers may not demand or even expect a promotion or a pay rise, or may simply not push themselves forward at work.

original 1978 study, shows that people living with imposter syndrome, when being promoted feels there must be a mistake in the selection process because they don't think they deserve it.

They are constantly afraid of making mistakes or letting other people down. The fear of not succeeding may cause them to hold themselves back and avoid seeking higher achievements.

3. Hamper’s Leadership and Management

Sufferers will feel vulnerable and fear being exposed, making tough, unpopular decisions becomes harder and showing strong leadership less likely.

4. Restricts Innovation and Risk-taking

Fearing failure inhibits less creativity and inventiveness. sufferers cannot try something new because they are scared of the unknown

5. Affects Mental Health

Creating stress, anxiety, lack of self-confidence, shame, frustration and feelings of isolation. This is particularly relevant now.

6. Job Dissatisfaction

A 2014 study shows that people with impostor syndrome tend to stay in their positions because they do not believe that they can do better. The person may undervalue their skills or fail to recognize how other roles might place more importance on their abilities.

HOW TO OVERCOMING IMPOSTER SYNDROME

Overcoming imposter syndrome starts with recognizing your potential and taking ownership of your achievement. Here are a few tips that would help you;

1. Develop a Healthy Response to Failure and Mistake

Do you know that most of the people we look up to today had a history of failure at one point in life?

Robert F. Kennedy says “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” So instead of beating yourself up for falling short, learn from the loss and move on reminding yourself, “I’ll get there next time. And yes, you will

2. Stop Comparing

Focus on measuring your achievements instead of holding them up against others’. Comparing your own life to a carefully curated influencer’s social media feed, for example, is a trap for feeling like you don’t measure up. Understand that your difference is where your uniqueness lies.

3. Find Yourself a Mentor

To overcome the imposter syndrome, it is important to ensure that you get yourself a decent mentor. As a tip, if you get Mentortribes mentorship; you’ll be privileged to get your mentor’s advice and learn from their mistakes instead of making costly mistakes of your own.

4. Separate Feelings From Fact

Just because you feel something doesn’t mean it's real. We all feel stupid or slow or unprepared at times but it doesn’t necessarily mean that’s who we are.

5. Stop striving to be perfect

Accept that perfection is unattainable and that no one is.

6. Attribute Success Truthfully

Everyone has good and bad luck. Attributing success to luck undermines your abilities and confidence. Be grateful and appreciative.

7. Make a Balanced List of Your Strengths and Accomplishments

It’s less easy to discount a success when seen against a backdrop of past successes. Always remind yourself that you can do it now because you’ve done it in the past. 

Now I’d love to hear from you; what strategies would you use from today’s post to overcome imposter syndrome?

Let me know by leaving a comment below right now.

References

Sakulku J, Alexander J. The imposter phenomenon. International Journal of Behavioral Science. 2011;6(1):73-92.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31848865/