Imposter Syndrome and How to Beat It

When it comes to dealing with Imposter Syndrome, you first need to recognise the symptoms, or the telltale signs, which could be:

• Constantly Self-Doubting

Regularly have troubling feelings of self-doubt where you question your abilities, competence, and qualifications, even though the results are obvious in what you’ve achieved.

• Downplaying Your Achievements

Downplay your achievements as if they’re something to be ashamed of, and put them down to luck, timing, or other factors rather than acknowledging your own skill and effort.

• Always Fearing Failure

Often feel an intense fear of failure, which will often lead to procrastination, avoidance of challenges, or reluctance to take on new opportunities, due to fear of being exposed as a fraud.

• A Tendency To Overwork and Obsess About Being Perfect

Work more hours than you need to and say things like, “I just need it to be perfect,” as a justification, and this is usually because you think making a mistake will reveal your incompetence.

• Looking For Constant Validation

Always look for the approval of others to validate your own worthiness and rely on the feedback they give to lessen your feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.

Now let’s talk about the real-life consequences of Imposter Syndrome – what happens in reality.

The thing is, Imposter Syndrome isn’t just some harmless ‘mind habit’, its ripples can affect your career progression, stunt your personal growth, and cast a dark shadow over your mental wellbeing.

You might find yourself passing up exciting opportunities, such as going for that well-deserved promotion out of fear of failure, and instead, ‘play it safe’ to avoid making mistakes.

Then, when you’re stuck in a place you don’t want to be, regret can set in, especially if you see others progress in the way you wanted, leaving you with a sense of low self-esteem and low self-worth.

And there’s more…

Imposter Syndrome isn’t just out to ruin your career, it can also have devastating effects on your personal life by chipping away at your self-esteem, fuelling anxiety and stress, and even causing you to sabotage good relationships.

None of this is good, but the great news is, with a bit of work, Imposter Syndrome can DEFINITELY be beaten.

Battle Tested Tips For Beating Imposter Syndrome

I say ‘battle-tested’ because the following tried and tested tips have come from reputable psychology sites from across the internet, which I’ve put together below in a more accessible format.

But remember, these are just general tips for dealing with Imposter Syndrome, and if you are struggling to cope, please look for professional guidance to help get you back on track.

1. Put Together Evidence of What You’ve Achieved

Create a dedicated space and time to bring together proof of what you’ve achieved. This could be collecting certificates, awards, positive feedback, or just a list you’ve jotted down of the successful projects you’ve completed or milestones you’ve reached.

Once you have all this evidence, keep it handy so you can revisit it from time to time, especially when you’re feeling the self-doubt creeping in, or when you find yourself downplaying some of those amazing things you’ve done or goals you’ve achieved.

2. Slay Those Negative Thoughts

We all get these thoughts, such as, “I’m not good at anything,” or, “He’s much better at that than me.” But, to fight back against Imposter Syndrome, we need to stop these damaging thoughts in their tracks, and instead focus on the things we’re really good at.

A good way to do this is by converting negative thoughts into positive thoughts. So, if you do feel the need to work more hours than anyone else, recognise your strong work ethic, instead of seeing it as a way to address your ‘perceived’ failure.

3. Avoid The All-Or-Nothing Mindset

A common reaction to Imposter Syndrome is to think in all-or-nothing terms, such as, “I have to complete this entire project or I’m a failure.” This mindset usually just sets us up to fail from the start as the goals we set are often beyond what we can achieve.

So instead, break down your goals into smaller, more achievable steps. Celebrate progress, even if it’s just small bits at a time. And, recognise that success isn’t always about huge achievements; it’s also about growth and learning.

4. Talk To Others

As you might with many other mental health challenges, talking to others about your Imposter Syndrome and how it affects your life, is one of the most powerful ways to start beating it, and living without it constantly lurking in the background.

When you do open up, whether it’s to a trusted friend or colleague, a family member, or a mentor, you’ll likely find others have similar doubts, and by sharing your experiences of Imposter Syndrome you’ll get a better perspective and start reducing its impact.

5. Accept That We All Fail

Another good way to deal with Imposter Syndrome is to try to understand that everyone suffers setbacks and failures in their life and that YOUR setbacks and failures don’t define who you are or your worth as a human being.

To gain this understanding, start seeing your mistakes not as failures but as lessons in how you could improve, and use past mistakes/lessons as stepping stones to achieve your goals, rather than looking back on them with shame or disappointment.

6. Do Other Things

When you have Imposter Syndrome, it can often be more noticeable in the working environment, especially when a big project needs completing, or when deadlines back up, giving you the sense that you’re losing control.

During these periods especially, make time for other things in your life, such as hobbies and other interests, and nurture important relationships. By doing this, you’ll begin to recognise that your value extends beyond your job title or work accomplishments.