One of the most ritualistic parts of the holiday season is setting goals for the new year. A symbolic opportunity to try something new, work on yourself, or turn aspirations into actions. But often times our exciting visualizations of our potential future-selves are cut short by an internal voice telling us we “don’t deserve to achieve our goals.” That “we aren’t skilled enough to make it in the lane we are in,” or that “we don’t actually posses what it takes.” This internal voice is known as Imposter Syndrome, something that over 70% of the population suffers from.
It’s an unwarranted sense of insecurity that makes us feel like we haven't earned our success. We focus on what we lack and we can’t internalize what we have accomplished. We feel overwhelmed by chronic self-doubt and a feeling of fraudulence. As a result, we often put an unhealthy amount of pressure on ourselves to “not fail” in order to avoid being “found out.” As stated in Harvard Business Review, “paradoxically, success also becomes an issue as it brings the added pressure of responsibility and visibility. This leads to an inability to enjoy success.”
Contrary to popular belief, Imposter Syndrome is not equated with low self-esteem or self-confidence. High-achieving and highly successful people suffer from it too. But the good thing is that imposter syndrome is just a belief that we hold about ourselves and nothing more. Which means we also hold the to power to overcome it.
Here are some steps you can take to overcome Imposter Syndrome:
1. Acknowledge it head on: take a mental note of when imposter feelings surface and call it out right away. “The feeling that I am experiencing right now is imposter syndrome.”
2. Identify events that may amplify your feelings: are there certain actions that tend to ignite or amplify your feelings of imposter syndrome? Perhaps you have a big deadline coming up or you are embarking down a new path. Tell yourself it’s totally normal to feel anxious or nervous and that such feelings are not reflective of your skill set. In fact, if you are starting a new job or are submitting a big project and don't feel even the slightest bit of worry or concern, you may need rethink about your passion for and interest in that role all together.
3. Pay attention to patterns of behavior that amplify your Imposter Syndrome: are you constantly comparing yourself to others on social media or at work? Do you measure your success and accomplishments against your age and what others around you have “achieved?” Avoid these activities all together. They ignite a counterproductive flame of anxiety and serve no benefit to you or your success.
4. Revisit positive feedback and accomplishments: keep track of positive feedback and words of encouragement you’ve received. Make a list or take a mental note of your accomplishments to date. Think about all of the life changes you’ve made and achievements you’ve accomplished in these last few years. Allow yourself to acknowledge your wins.
5. Accept that YOU have played a major role in your success: there are specific actions you’ve taken and investments and sacrifices you've made to get you where you are today. It wasn’t just a stroke of good luck or an unlikely series of opportunities that came your way. You have played an active role in getting to where you are today. You deserve to be here.
6. Accept the fact that you will make some mistakes: En route to a successful outcome a few mistakes are inventible along the way. Everyone makes mistakes or experiences losses in their career journey at some point. It doesn’t mean you are a fraud if something doesn’t turn out the way you expected. It doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to be successful. It means you are human and you now have an additional bank of knowledge you can invest in your next win.
7. Allow yourself the time to get where you want to go: most of the goals we set for ourselves take time to achieve. They involve periods of learning and discovery, growth, nurturing, trial and error. Enjoy each step of the process. Don’t put pressure on yourself to showcase to the world you are successful right off the bat. After all, it often takes ten years to become an overnight success.
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