Career Control: Beating Your Inner Imposter

Have you ever felt like you’re in over your head? That your friends and colleagues are going to have a sudden epiphany that you’re not who you say you are? Maybe you don’t genuinely believe or understand why you received a recent promotion or pay rise. If so don’t stress, you’re not suffering from Personality Dissociation Disorder but like many before you, you are experiencing Imposter syndrome. According to studies conducted by the International Journal of Behavioural Science, an estimated 70% of the population are affected by these same feelings that can bite you on the ass when you least expect or want them to.

Psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes studied the patterns of self-doubt which as expected, were found to be highly prominent within senior level professionals. The idea that you stumble upon your personal success by accident was shown to affect anyone who didn’t have the ability to own their successes. As a result, you begin to feel less competent than a chocolate fireguard on a hot day and self-doubt runs riot on your psyche.

Unfortunately, the origins of Imposter syndrome are limitless. Maybe you disappointed your parents by not making Partner by the time you were 30 or perhaps your siblings landed the starring role in Joseph and The Technicolour Dreamcoat when you were at school while you were the donkey at the side of the stage. “People often internalize these ideas: that in order to be loved or be lovable, ‘I need to achieve,’” says Psychologist Audrey Ervin. “It becomes a self-perpetuating cycle.”

The good news is that people who don’t suffer from Imposter syndrome are no more intelligent, competent or capable than the rest of us. This means that learning to not think like impostor is the key success. Sounds easier said than done though right? We got some tips from Dr Valerie Young, a leading authority on how to combat this soul sucking syndrome to get you started.

• Don’t be so sensitive! There are times you’ll feel stupid. It happens to everyone. Realise that just because you may feel stupid, doesn’t mean you are.
• Sometimes you should feel like a fraud… If you’re one of the first to achieve new goals, it’s only natural you’d sometimes feel like you don’t totally fit in. Instead of taking your self-doubt as a sign of your ineptness, recognise that it might be a normal response to being a high achiever. 
• Concentrate on the positives. Perfectionism can indicate a healthy drive to excel. The trick is to not obsess over everything being just so. Do a great job when it matters most, without persevering over routine tasks. Forgive yourself when the inevitable mistake happens. 
• Develop a new response to failure and mistake making. Henry Ford once said, “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” Instead of beating yourself up for being human and blowing the big project, do what professional athletes do and glean the learning value from the mistake and move on. 
• Right the rules. If you’ve been operating under misguided rules like, “I should always know the answer,” or “Never ask for help” start asserting your rights. Recognise that you have just as much right as the next person to be wrong, have an off-day, or ask for assistance. 
• Visualise success. Do what professional athletes do. Spend time beforehand picturing yourself making a successful presentation or calmly posing your question in class. It sure beats picturing impending disaster and will help with performance-related stress. 
• Fake it ‘til you make it. Now and then we all have to fly by the seat of our pants. Instead of considering “winging it” as proof of your ineptness, learn to do what many high achievers do and view it as a skill. The point of the worn out phrase, fake it til you make it, still stands: Don’t wait until you feel confident to start putting yourself out there. Courage comes from taking risks. Change your behaviour first and allow your confidence to build. 

The reality is, Imposter syndrome is increasing amongst senior professionals and the less we talk about it, the worse it will become. We now accept a far more accountable attitude towards the expectation others have about our achievements, which leaves you wondering where we will be in 10 years’ time. So, let’s face the facts, however cool it might sound to channel Victor Lustig, the infamous con man who sold the Eiffel Tower and scammed Al Capone, none of us actually want to be him.

Do you have any further coping strategies for Imposter syndrome? What do you think Imposter syndrome means for businesses around the world? Are you a self-confessed Imposter?