5 Tips for Dealing with Imposter Syndrome
If you struggle with imposter syndrome, please know it’s not just you. One recent study found that 65% of professionals struggle with imposter syndrome, which disproportionally affects women (and even more so, women of color)—hello patriarchal conditioning! Another study found that 75% of surveyed female executives have experienced imposter syndrome in their careers. Executives also state that addressing their confidence issues early in their careers was key to helping them advance to where they are today.
So we know that addressing imposter syndrome is important for having the career we want—but you might not know how to start. Here are five tips for starting to build your confidence, because we aren’t letting imposter syndrome hold us back:
Create lists of your skills and accomplishments: High-achievers are likely to focus more on what they still want to accomplish, and less on what they have already done. This can make imposter syndrome louder. I encourage my clients to out a list of their skills, including soft skills, and everything they have accomplished in their careers thus far. Just seeing those accomplishments on paper can really help challenge your beliefs about your worth. Bonus points if you put the lists in your notes app and refer to them often!
Dig deep into your thought patterns: If you’re struggling with imposter syndrome, you have some beliefs about yourself and your worth that need to be addressed. Start by asking yourself some questions—why do you feel you aren’t good enough to be in the room? Why would the company hire you if you weren’t qualified? What makes the people you look up to more qualified than you? Creating awareness around your limiting beliefs is key to shifting them.
Learn to validate yourself: Most often, I find my clients with imposter syndrome rely on external validation to feel good about themselves. This is human, but we will become much more confident when we learn to validate ourselves. The next time you offer a great idea in a meeting, or complete a project, take time to recognize the value you brought to your team. Tell yourself you did a great job. This may feel awkward at first, but it becomes more natural the more you practice.
Prioritize self-care: One of the greatest ways to build confidence is to prioritize your own well-being outside of work. Put very simply, you want to make an effort to check in with your needs and then take action to meet those needs on a daily basis. If you’re just starting out, try to take 10 minutes in the morning to do something that fills you up before you reach for your phone or computer.
Get support: Imposter syndrome is often a deep-seated belief. Getting a coach or a therapist to help you understand your imposter syndrome and untangle the beliefs causing it will help you get further, faster. Remember that you aren’t alone—try talking to your peers, and you might be surprised to find that many are in the same boat.
Want to see results faster than you would on your own? Powerful is an 8-week group program built to help you gain confidence, self-understanding, and learn to manage the stress that causes burnout. The best part is, you will do it in a group of professional women who will lift you up and help you feel seen—because if there’s one thing I’ve learned from this work, it’s that we are all struggling with similar things. Grab a spot for $299 until April 18—after that, you can join at the full price of $499. Learn more here.
