Have you ever felt like you don’t deserve the success you have achieved? Perhaps you feel like you haven’t done enough, despite your best efforts. These negative feelings may stem from imposter syndrome. While a buzzword, imposter syndrome often affects individuals acutely. Imposter syndrome is described as the feeling of lingering dread you feel despite having achieved success. It is something that people commonly struggle with, especially in the professional environment. Consequently, having imposter syndrome in the workplace affects your career negatively. Overcoming imposter syndrome is essential for success.
What is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter syndrome affects a wide range of people, from youth to professionals in the workplace. It is characterized by a lingering fear that they will be revealed as incompetent despite their success. Imposter syndrome also comes with the thought of not having earned their achievements. Dr. Pauline Rose Clance, the clinical psychologist who coined the term ‘imposter phenomenon’, described the occurrence as common. Acknowledging imposter syndrome as a widespread problem is a step towards normalizing the conversation around it and improving access to help.
A competitive environment is one of the causes of imposter syndrome. Another aspect is a sense of self-doubt that may have festered and grown into a feeling of unworthiness. People suffering from imposter syndrome might believe they aren’t as intelligent and creative as they seem. They have anxieties about whether they can recreate successes from the past, thinking it might have been a fluke. Usually, high-achieving individuals suffer from imposter syndrome as they fear they may be called out as a fraud. It is also highly present in people who have underrepresented identities, such as people in the transgender and nonbinary communities. This is because they feel immense pressure from the pervasive fear of not being ‘woman’ or ‘man’ enough.
In the workplace, imposter syndrome may affect work productivity and career advancements. Other than the individual who suffers from it, team members and organizations can feel its negative effects too.
Imposter Syndrome’s Impact on Career
Imposter syndrome in the workplace is most prevalent among perfectionists. Although the term ‘perfectionism’ is synonymous with positive character, it can be a double-edged sword. Research conducted by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes shows that perfectionism is highly connected to feelings of anxiety in the workplace. The lingering sense of self-doubt hinders career advancements as it leads to the underestimation of your capabilities. It keeps you stuck in one spot in terms of your career, never taking the leap of faith.
Perfectionism, under the influence of imposter syndrome, might even cause the fear of making mistakes. This prevents career advancement due to the constant revision of your resume or not taking the next steps because your experience feels inadequate. Beyond job applications, the constant want for perfection would lead to dissatisfaction in your work. All these add up to the possibility of limiting yourself and your career. Ultimately, it ends up being a form of self-sabotage of your professional development.
Overcoming imposter syndrome takes mindful practice and reassurance from external factors. The first step becomes acknowledging it and making sure it does not pose an obstacle in your daily life.
Causes of Imposter Syndrome and Overcoming Them
To acknowledge imposter syndrome, we must first understand the root of its cause. The first and most common cause of imposter syndrome is the existence of unrealistic expectations. These expectations that you hold against yourself and your professional performance become a ticking time bomb. You might feel that tasks are easier or ‘better’ when you take them on yourself. However, this may not last long because those unrealistic expectations will ultimately lead to career burnout. Instead of having big, outlandish goals, you can try to break them down into smaller, achievable goals. You should also always remember your achievements in the past, and trust your own capabilities.
The second most common cause of imposter syndrome is the constant comparison of yourself to others. While comparing yourself to others can be fuel for your ambitions, it might also make you feel less capable than you are. It disregards your achievements and strengths, leaving you feeling unappreciative of your efforts. This can potentially have you thinking that you could never be good enough. So instead of exerting pressure on yourself, it is wiser to keep things in perspective. Focus on your goals and how to achieve them, instead of comparing where you are to where your colleagues are. Recognize that this comparative thinking is the cause of imposter syndrome and is not grounded in the reality of things.
Externally, the causes of imposter syndrome can stem from people around you and your upbringing. Parenting styles which tend to put a priority on their children’s achievements might internalize the imposter syndrome from a young age. Relationships you establish in youth and their nature can determine the possibility of developing imposter syndrome. At later stages, you might develop imposter syndrome from your relationship with peers. It might originate from the feeling of being different from your peers in terms of background and ability. Additionally, imposter syndrome may also come from workplace ethics and culture. A workplace culture that puts emphasis on performance, achievement, and cutthroat competition can amplify this possibility. While imposter syndrome is a developed mindset and can be unlearnt through conscious practices, taking help through professional therapy might help individuals heal and undo deep-seated insecurities.
Cultivating Confidence
It all boils down to having confidence in yourself, your capabilities, and your achievements. Many say that “Confidence is key,” and in this case, it certainly is. While it may seem easier said than done, cultivating confidence begins within yourself. One of the crucial things to consider is how you reframe your view of yourself and the people around you. The most basic step is to not believe everything you see on social media and take it to heart.
Social media can add fuel to the feeling of unworthiness you struggle with daily. This is why having a mindful use of social media becomes the best step to take in this situation. On social media, people’s lives are framed in a way that exaggerates aspects of their achievements. It causes you to constantly compare yourself to people your age in a different life stage. Success comes for different people at different times, but so does hardship. It is better to remind yourself that not everyone is perfect, and no one posts their hardships on social media.
The next step you can take to cultivate confidence in yourself is to celebrate your achievements. Acknowledging that you have done good will give you more faith in yourself. Small victories can be celebrated by treating yourself on a day out or by spending time with your friends. Through consciously acknowledging your achievements, you can start to feel better about yourself. Additionally, it becomes a form of self-love as you appreciate the efforts you put into the accomplishment.
The next time you face that nagging feeling of self-doubt, remember how you got to this point in life. Recognize that not everyone is perfect, and you don’t have to pressure yourself to meet that mark. Appreciate the things you have done and the efforts you exerted to accomplish them. Always remember that you are enough. Everyone, including you, is special in their own way.
Conclusion
Having imposter syndrome amplifies the feeling of self-doubt, accredited to the anxieties of perfectionism. A suffocating pressure on your own performance, imposter syndrome serves as a hindrance to your career advancements. Through cultivating confidence, mindful use of social media, and a shift in perspective, you can combat imposter syndrome. You must be able to recognize and celebrate each small victory as one step closer to your ultimate goal. Additionally, being able to recognize your capabilities and achievements helps you cultivate confidence in yourself.
