Do you question your authenticity or believe that you are an imposter when in fact, you have the background, experience and knowledge to prove otherwise? Do you doubt your own skills and successes or feel that you are not talented as others and worry that one day, people will realize this?
Research indicates that you’re more likely to have imposter syndrome when you feel different from your colleagues. Imposter syndrome is often found in high-achieving businesswomen but also common in all genders and in many different lines of work.
Symptoms
- Think that everyone knows more than you do
- Believe that others think that you are more skilled than you really are
- You discredit your successes
- Are worried that you don’t belong and others will eventually realize this
- Feel like you always have to do more than what’s asked of you
- Don’t like being praised for your work or what you do
- Worried that you will disappoint others
- Are hard on yourself for making mistakes
- Seek others’ approval
Characteristics
Fear of success: You worry that once you get the goal that you’ve been hoping for, you won’t be able to keep up.
Fear of failure: Failure of any kind feels shameful and you work even harder at other tasks or job expectations.
Perfectionism: You try to be perfect at everything you do, but find fault in your achievements.
Not accepting your achievements: You deflect and ignore positive praise you receive.
Super Hero. You take on more work and say “yes” to things that you shouldn’t.
Causes
How you grew up in a family that stressed achievement and success or you got mixed messages of being overpraised and criticized, then you may feel like a fraud.
Several personality traits have been linked to imposter syndrome including low self-esteem, anxiety and perfectionism.
If you feel like an outsider through race, ethnicity, gender, or age can lead you to feeling that you are an imposter.
Treatment
Talking to a counselor can help with negative self-messages as you learn how to reframe these thoughts, identify personal strengths and step into a new belief system.
Cognitive processing therapy helps you identify the negative beliefs and replace them with more realistic thoughts.
Group work or group therapy with others who have imposter syndrome to better understand yourself and how this syndrome affects other people.
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
- Make a list of things you’ve done well and that you are proud of.
- Remind yourself of the facts (you did a good job) not the emotion, which can be false.
- Have self-compassion and allow yourself to make mistakes.
- Say thank you when someone gives you praise and accept it.
- Don’t compare yourself to others, know your strengths and talents and be proud of them.
- Remind yourself that your fears aren’t real.
And remember, yes It’s possible to overcome imposter syndrome!