Once or many times, you may have experienced feelings of being unworthy or undeserving of a new role or position in a place of work.
You tend to believe that you don’t have what it takes to succeed at your job and people will discover that you are not good enough. Then, you begin to walk on eggshells, living every day with dread, believing that you are a fraud, thus stalling your productivity at work.
Simply put, Imposters syndrome is a feeling you experience which makes you undermine your talents, abilities, and successes, thereby resulting in reliving past failures and capitalizing on them.
Imposter syndrome is not limited to a certain profession or demography, it cut across different industries and professionals from all walks of life.
The symptoms of imposter syndrome are anxiety, pessimism, low self-esteem, constantly doubting your abilities, inferiority complex, dwelling on past failures, downplaying your achievements, and rejecting accolades over a job well done.
Once you notice these symptoms, the next step is to seek help, because if it is left unattended for a long time, it can negatively affect your overall productivity and personal development.
How to overcome Imposter Syndrome
- Change your thinking: your mind plays a significant role in overcoming imposter syndrome. It is the root of every thought or idea you conceive. So, the first way to overcome imposter syndrome is to reshape your thinking. You need to quell those negative thoughts and start thinking positively. Do not give in to such thoughts when they sprout in your mind. Feed your mind with positivity and you are on the right track to ending imposter syndrome.
- Positive affirmation: an effective way to suppress those negative feelings or voices in your mind is to constantly remind yourself that you’ve got what it takes to achieve your goals and succeed. To overcome imposter syndrome, write a list of positive declarations that will help you start the day on a bright note. Words like: ‘I deserve the best’ ‘I am talented’ ‘I am not afraid of failure’ ‘I am thinking positively’ ‘I have what it takes to succeed’ ‘I am confident in my abilities’ ‘I am doing great’ ‘I am amazing’, and other positive-minded messages.
Every morning before you start your day, read them aloud to yourself. This will help to boost your confidence and make you feel better about yourself.
- Own your successes: whenever you are tempted to trivialize your achievements, discard such thoughts and revel in the output of your hard work. Whether the wins are little or huge, own them and pat yourself on the back for doing an excellent job. When you are being showered with accolades from your boss, friends, colleagues, or employees, do not shrug it off by trying to be ‘modest’, accept them and use the encomium as a propelling tool to motivate you to do more.
- Associate yourself with confident people: one of the easiest ways to worsen imposter syndrome is by surrounding yourself with people who are wallowing in a pool of negative energy. They will suck you into that negativity and squash your self-esteem. A great way to prevent this and overcome imposter syndrome is by associating with confident people. Their confidence will rub off on you and help you stay confident even during challenging situations.
- Consult a therapist: you can also seek professional help by consulting a therapist to help you overcome imposter syndrome. They can help proffer effective solutions or methods to help you combat the situation and live your authentic life.
By applying the timely tips listed in this article, you will overcome imposter syndrome in no time and double your productivity at work. And whenever you want to give in to that feeling of inadequacy in the future, remember this quote by Helen Keller, “Never bend your head. Hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.”
I am rooting for you!
Photo by Nathan Anderson on Unsplash
