Imposter syndrome is a psychological pattern in which a person constantly doubts their own achievements and accomplishments, and is usually accompanied by an internalised fear that they are in some way a fraud. In the workplace imposter syndrome usually presents itself as a feeling of not being good enough, whereby a person feels a constant fear of failure while discounting any praise they get for their work. This is then usually compensated for by perfectionism and overworking, but despite doing well in their role the person still feels as though they are an imposter and will be found out as a fraud. Living with imposter syndrome can be incredibly draining, not to mention, self-deprecating and so it is important to address it head-on. Here are a few things that you can do to help.
Talk about it
People who suffer from imposter syndrome tend to internalize their fears about not being good enough but instead of keeping it in, they should try to let it out. Speak with your colleagues, manager or family about how you feel at work, and the chances are you’ll find that several of them feel the same. Although sharing your imposter syndrome won’t make it go away, it can help you to feel less alone.
Remind yourself of your achievements
With imposter syndrome, it can be very easy to dwell on the negatives or failures in your job and to forget all of the positive achievements that you have made. Try writing a list of all of your accomplishments, both big and small, and make notes of positive feedback that you receive for your work so that you can clearly see how much you have accomplished. If you are having a particularly bad day, then return to these achievements and compliments as a reminder of your worth.
Practice mantras
Mantras can be extremely comforting on days when your internal monologue is putting you down or when you feel as though things are out of your control. Drown out the negative noise by repeating something positive to yourself such as “I am meant to be here” or “I am good at what I do”, or even something longer depending on your specific fears like, “I am smart, I am brave and I am not afraid to try if it makes me stronger.” Whatever mantra you choose you can incorporate it into your life in a number of discrete ways, be that by writing it on a post-it note on your desk, saying it in your head, or sticking it to your bathroom mirror.
Practice mindfulness
Sometimes imposter syndrome can start to morph into a form of anxiety, making you worry about your past performances and causing you to obsess over every minute detail of your working day. If you find that you are feeling very anxious, then you could benefit from trying mindfulness, focusing on your breathing and bringing yourself back to the present moment. You may also want to consider taking some natural anxiety remedies like CBD oil or Rescue Remedy pastilles. You can buy Rescue Remedy from most health stores and CBD oil is available online or in a local head shop.
So the next time you begin to feel your imposter syndrome taking hold, take a moment to say something positive to yourself, open up about how you feel to your family, friends and co-workers, breathe deep and remind yourself of all the positive things that you have achieved. You are not an imposter, you belong to be here and you are good at what you do.
