Imposter syndrome is defined as a psychological experience where a person doubts their skills and feels like an intellectual or professional fraud despite clear proof of their success. Our human nature can sometimes be our worst enemy. We have the tendency to sometimes think the worst of ourselves.
Successful people occasionally have negative thoughts about their job performance in the forefront of their mind. Am I doing okay? Am I as good as I portray myself to be? What if I am not living up to what people expect of me?
Do any of these questions sound familiar? How often do you have these thoughts? You are not alone when it comes to doubting your abilities. According to the International Journal of Behavioral Science, 70% of people experience imposter syndrome at some point in their working lives.
Where do these thoughts come from and what is the cause for feeling as if you’re an imposter? Imposter Syndrome is strongly associated with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and burnout. Chronic stress from work can have a heavy mental and physical toll.
Self confidence is another aspect of Imposter Syndrome. Feeling that your work is not good enough or that you did not complete a task that was satisfactory. These thoughts can creep in, even if there is no proof to support them.
Let’s do an honest assessment. In order to shake those feelings of being inadequate, start with self reflection. Inspect the work that you are doing and the impact that it has. Are you completing tasks in a timely manner? Do you receive compliments for the things that you do? You’re more than likely performing better than you think you are.
Combatting Imposter Syndrome is an ongoing thing. Who do you have in your corner that can tell you the truth? What measures are you taking to ensure that your work is up to par? Do you give yourself an opportunity to step away from tasks to refocus? Are you knowledgeable about the work that you’re tasked with doing?
We have to remember to give ourselves grace. No one is going to perform perfectly at anything. Take time to reflect on how far you have come and lean into your expertise. Do what you do best. Have pride in your intellectual abilities. Your skill set is unique and valuable. If any of this resonates with you, I would love to hear your thoughts.
