After an arduous year it seems appropriate to end with my last article on this 'softer' topic.
I recently listened to a podcast series covering a variety of business-related topics, one of which was an episode on 'Imposter Syndrome'. I had never heard of this phenomenon but after listening I had a kind of 'A-HA' moment. It just didn’t make sense to me until now.
"Impostor syndrome (also known as impostor phenomenon, impostorism, fraud syndrome or the impostor experience) is a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their skills, talents or accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a "fraud"." - Wikipedia
Apparently 70% of us have experienced it, and interestingly, it is not more commonly found in one sex more than the other. With such prevalence hopefully I am not alone in what I am about to express.
This year I have put myself in multiple challenging situations where after the event I felt very much like this. It’s almost like an achievement hangover.
'Who am I to speak at that event?', 'I will never get that job', 'Who am I to write this article?' or 'Why did I agree or sign up for that' and 'What do I know?'.
Reflecting on this, I think it’s the pre-conceptions of authenticity - comparison to others and their qualifications or status vs my own knowledge, regardless of having worked very hard to get where I am, to constantly better myself and to set my own very high bar. There is always the presence of that second guessing that causes discomfort and self doubt in my ability, not only in my career but also in my personal life.
The double-edged sword is that high achievers feel a constant drive – a need to want more for themselves and take on new challenges. So sometimes we still push ourselves into those un-charted waters and can become resilient at the same time. I.E. imposter syndrome often doesn't stop us from 'doing' but might prevent us from reaching full potential.
So how does one identify this issue?
"Its triggered by uncertainty, and uncertainty happens when you push yourself or are pushed into something that is outside your comfort zone" - Suzanne Mercier
Whether or not you believe in this syndrome there is no denying that in business there is an element of 'self doubt' we have all experienced at least once in our lives.
Here are some suggestions on managing it:
Be honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses - have confidence in your strengths and don't back down too easy when challenged.
Identify your triggers - is it a rogue question in a meeting or a potential to shine that you shy away from? Acknowledge them and see what you can do to change your behaviour the next time they arise.
Do a mental count of the % of negative thoughts or 'I'm not good enough' moments in relevant situations or in the post-achievement phase.
Learn from others but don't always compare yourself to them. Qualifications vs Experience will always be a debate but an achievement should strengthen belief!
Trust feedback from people around you or seek out specific feedback - self-evolution is a good thing. At the same time - Identify and IGNORE the haters.
In conclusion - always believe in your worth as only you will know how many books, classes, degrees and mentors you carry under your belt. Trust your instincts and achieve away.