6 Strategies for Defeating the Imposter Syndrome
Who do you think you are? Do you actually think you can do that? You do
not meet 100% of the criteria so why are you applying for that job? How many times have you said such things to
yourself? If so, this is a hallmark of individuals dealing with the IMPOSTER
SYNDROME. The Imposter Syndrome essentially is the unfounded belief that
you are not equipped or talented enough to attempt a role or new endeavor
despite all evidence to the contrary. This has me thinking out
loud about how damaging self-limiting beliefs can be thus we should do all we
can to overcome them.
Originally conceptualized by researchers
Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes in 1978, the syndrome was originally found in
high-achieving female leaders. Further research finds that other susceptible populations
include successful minority professionals but who find themselves with inadequate
roles models as they progress, military professionals entering the civilian
workforce, career switchers, and high achieving professionals who find themselves
in new situations (a.k.a. YOU!).
The problem with feeling you are inadequate when in you really are not creates substantial costs associated with false self-beliefs. These can include:
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES = because you are less likely you will seek stretch roles and opportunities.
LIMITED TRAJECTORY = that can hamper your willingness to seek higher level roles within your organization or elsewhere.
DAMAGED CREDIBILITY = because you over-compensate thus damage your trust factor with yourself and others.
REDUCED IMPACT = that prevents you from offering your expertise, knowledge, energy for a role where people and organizations NEED you. It is YOU we are waiting on!
DELAYED or DEFERRED GROWTH = because you will not seek GAP filling experiences because you feel you are not WORHTY of them.
DAMAGED LEGACY = since you will not become ALL that you were meant to BE!
Even just one of these is too high price to pay! So, what can we do about it? Pulling from the real-life experiences of leaders and entrepreneurs who have had to overcome their own imposter feelings, here a six strategies to combat the Imposter Syndrome.
Focus on Past Achievements –
It is important to inventory your successes.
List your accomplishments and skills. This is more than a resume but a clear
inventory of what you do best. Once you have this evidence of accomplishment, DECONSTRUCT
what has made you successful! Be objective whether you agree with it or not and
ask close associates to confirm you inventory. Finally, this is your inventory
and not a comparison. The ONLY thing you should be COMPETING against is your
POTENTIAL.
Focus on Solutions –
Instead of thinking in terms of “if”, think
about success being just a matter of time. Consider success a process, not a static,
binary (either you are or are not) state. I especially like what co-founder of
IT Cosmetics, Jamie Lynn Kearns, advises when she encourages us to embrace the
power of “Yet” where NO really just means NOT YET! Success means putting in the
work, you may not be where you want to be NOW but you will SOON!
Focus on Equipping -
The only positive aspect of the Imposter
Syndrome is that self-doubt can be a catalyst for improvement. All uncertainty means
is you understand you still have something to learn. You will never realize
your VALUE until you understand where your VALUE resides. Coaches and assessments
can help you with this. Coach and speaker Paul Martinelli urges us to “do it
afraid!” If you wait until you are 100% on EVERYTHING, you will do NOTHING!
Focus on Excellence –
Understand that PERFECTION is a myth. Liz Bohannon, Founder Sseko Designs, tell us there is ALWAYS a learning curve. Success requires work and is NOT AUTOMATIC. Mistakes are part of the EXCELLENCE process but if we do not allow that for ourselves then we will never attempt the BIG things!
Focus on Making It –
Confidence and personal belief is a process. The problem is that if we “fake it till we make it”, that creates an INAUTHENTIC Self. We should avoid just PRETENDING to be confident because when you do so you really are just creating TWO Imposters – one that believes they are really not CAPABLE and another who is really not confident. The goal is though Inventorying strengths and achievements, being solutions focused, and equipping leads to a truly capable person! Again, your RESULTS validate your value and worth. Just LEAN IN to what you do best. I promise, you are more than good enough.
Focus on Others –
This is involves changing your point of
reference. When we pivot our focus to helping others, it diverts our obsession
with what is WRONG with us to how we can make things RIGHT for others! I have
written this many times, but great leaders do not think LESS of themselves, they
just think of themselves less!
Now about those “voices” in your head. Our SELF-TALK or the internal dialogue we have with ourselves is both the SOURCE and SOLUTION of defeating the Imposter Syndrome. Again, the Imposer Syndrome is that INNER VOICE that overlooks, discounts, and discredits your accomplishments and capabilities. The problem is that according to sport performance coach, Trevor Moawad, negative thoughts are 5X more impactful than positive ones. This is important in order to both understand and stop negative self-talk because what we SEE for ourselves, we RECEIVE for ourselves. A major tenant in coaching is that THOUGHT creates REALITY because our BELIEFS drive our RESULTS. In short, you are only an Imposter if you BELIEVE you are!
As always if I can help you and the people you associate with Get Better, Be Ready and LEAD OUT LOUD, I invite you to contact me.
Yours in leadership,
Bill Faulkner
Independent Coach, Speaker,
and Trainer with the John Maxwell Team TM\
Certified DISC Profile System
Trainer and Consultant
Email
= bill@outloudinc.com
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