In my previous post, I wrote about the masks you and I wear from time to time.
We don’t want others to know what we’re thinking or feeling, so we put on a mask – a front – to help cover or protect our internalized world.
One mask that people often wear has the objective of making others believe that you’re not as competent or as skilled as they think you are. In other words, you might wear a mask to prevent others from knowing the truth: that you’re an imposter, a fraud, and that you’ve been faking your skills all along!
The mask I’ve described above represents a collection of traits that make up the “imposter syndrome,” and it’s a type of mask that can prevent you from achieving your dreams and goals.
Imposter Syndrome
According to the American Psychological Association, “imposter syndrome is a pervasive feeling of self-doubt, insecurity, and incompetence despite evidence that you are skilled and successful.”
Many of us will feel like an imposter at different points in life, especially if we’re in a position requiring a particular set of skills or specific knowledge. As a result, you might go through a period(s) of self-doubt, believing that you’re an ‘imposter’ and that, at some point, someone will come up and expose you for being a fraud.
If you’ve ever felt you suffered from imposter syndrome, here are three ways to conquer this negative self-talk and self-doubt.
1. Accept that No One is Perfect.
It doesn’t matter who you are, how many degrees you have, or how much money you make, no one is perfect, and EVERYONE makes mistakes. You need to accept that everyone in your workplace – in your life, for that matter – fails or struggles at something from time to time. It doesn’t mean that either of you is a fraud.
2. You’re not alone.
Earning my doctorate in psychology was the fulfillment of a dream. It was the result of a lot of work and a lot of sacrifices. Yet, even after passing my exams and defending my dissertation, there were still many moments of self-doubt and worry.
What’s interesting is that every professional person I’ve ever spoken to also doubted themselves at many points in their journey. The point is that if you’ve ever doubted your skills and felt like an imposter, you’re part of a club of skilled people who also believed the same about themselves.
3. Pay attention to facts, not opinions.
Don’t minimize or underestimate the skills you’ve developed. The skills you’ve created and the knowledge you’ve acquired are hard evidence – it’s factual – whereas thinking that you’re a fraud is an opinion. When you experience insecurity and self-doubt, pay attention to the facts and ignore the opinions.
Hard Work and Luck Don’t Make You An Imposter
Thomas Jefferson once said, “I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”
If you have ever felt like you’ve accomplished something important or worthwhile, I’m sure there was a bit of luck that helped things unfold the way they did for you. But your good fortune is a consequence of the effort, hard work, and sacrifice you put into the journey in the first place. Own it.
Richard
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