Overcoming Imposter Syndrome:

The Secret to Success

Imposter syndrome is an emotional experience characterised by internalised feelings of intellectual phoniness and self-doubt, even in the face of praise from others for our accomplishments. How many times have you felt like you're just along for the ride? That every time someone tells you how happy they are with your work, deep down inside you self sabotage?

What is imposter syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is a recognised and relatively common experience in today's workplace and is characterised by the feeling of having self-doubt and a lack of confidence in your own abilities or achievements. Many professionals and companies have heard of imposter syndrome but may not recognise it as a real phenomenon. According to the Boston Globe, one of the main symptoms of imposter syndrome is that impostors tend to be proud of their imposter status and may perform better in a role than in reality. According to a study by researchers at Yale University, imposter syndrome is only satisfied when performance surpasses that of others, not when they meet expectations. This means that as long as you remain satisfied with your current performance, imposter syndrome is unlikely to kick in.

Signs of Imposter Syndrome

The problem with imposter syndrome is that we as humans have a strong propensity to be self-deceived. That's why that feeling of phoniness can quickly become self-fulfilling, convincing you to do and say things that go against your core beliefs and often pushing you towards an unhelpful and more destructive life direction. Imposter Syndrome and Happiness Imposter Syndrome not only impact our self-esteem but can also negatively impact our ability to be happy and fulfil our potential. Imposter Syndrome can result in anxiety and can make it more difficult to accomplish goals. You can feel like a fraud in any situation, big or small.

How does this affect a business growth mindset?

Tips to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

In a recent article titled 'How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome: Is This the Secret to Success?' writer Jana Staudinger and her team of researchers found evidence that psychologists and neuroscientists all over the world share a similar set of findings and philosophies. Staudinger says it is a deeply personal issue and really varies from person to person. For example, some may feel that they are just lucky to be good at things, while others believe they just aren't good enough. However, she believes there are some very common themes among many different types of people when it comes to understanding what drives self-doubt. The first is the environment you are in.

Do you suffer from imposter syndrome in your professional career or Business?