What is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter is defined as, “the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s efforts or skills.”
This may sound familiar to many, as research shows that as many as 70% of us have experienced Imposter Syndrome at some point in our careers, but this doesn’t mean that we have to let it stand in the way of taking on new roles and opportunities in the workplace.
As experiencing Imposter Syndrome is especially common when starting a new job or a new role, we at Get Recruited have some helpful tips for dealing with these thoughts if they ever arise:
Notice the signs of Imposter Syndrome
You can do this by keeping track of how you think and speak about your work. If you find it difficult to accept praise, hold yourself to impossibly high standards, or find you have an extremely strong fear of failure – you may be experiencing signs of Imposter Syndrome.
If you do find that these thoughts and feelings won’t go away on their own, remember you’re not alone, many people experience Imposter Syndrome no matter how successful they may be. Even some of the most accomplished people in their field experience Imposter Syndrome, you can read about their experiences in an article on Forbes.
Separate feelings from facts
Sometimes our mind can be our own worst enemy and it always helps to be aware that just because we think that we may be unable to do something, or that we aren’t good at a part of our job, that is not necessarily true.
Remind yourself of your successes
It might feel like you’re completely intimidated by your latest project, but haven’t you proved to yourself in the past that you have the knowledge and skills to do exactly what needs to be done?
Of course, if the feelings of Imposter Syndrome become too much, speak up! Don’t be afraid to talk to your manager or a colleague about what you’re thinking. It’s highly likely that they would have been through something similar and will have some great advice and encouragement for you to hear.