5 Hacks to Leverage and Overcome Imposter Syndrome

Do you find yourself riddled with self-doubt about the integrity of your work? Perhaps you lowkey feel like a fraud and as though you’re a fish out of water. Real talk, imposter syndrome is WAY more common than you might realize. The good news is, even though imposter syndrome is very common, it is manageable and doesn’t have to be all-consuming.

It’s just that your brain does this thing where it codes perception and reality in the same way. Think about it - when you anticipate something, say giving a presentation to a large audience, for example, your body reacts to it as though it’s real. Your body starts to experience anxiety symptoms even though you’re not actually giving the presentation at that moment. Consequently, your body responds to those ideas as though they’re happening in real-time, which is why you feel this surge of fear and anxiety simply at the thought of giving a presentation. Imposter syndrome is not so different - even though your thoughts about your skills and abilities aren’t necessarily accurate, your body responds to them as though they are true. This can be wildly scary and confusing, so much so there’s not even an emoji that can properly depict what imposter syndrome truly feels like.

In my clinical practice, one of the most common issues that high-performing, hard-working individuals struggle with is, you guessed it, imposter syndrome. Often, they struggle with self-doubt and feel like they either don’t deserve the success that they have achieved or as though there is nothing special about their work. It can be easier for an outsider to appreciate your work and even admire it, but what’s the value of that if you don’t believe it yourself?

First thing’s first, here are a few thoughts to consider and repeat after me: 

It’s okay if you’re still building experience. 

It’s okay if there are others who do an amazing job at what you’re doing (or what you want to do). 

And it’s also okay if you’ve tried and missed before. 

Frankly, I don’t know anyone who hasn’t experienced this all. 

So, what can you do about it?

1. Identify and distinguish feelings from facts

This tip is great because you can do it anytime, anywhere and it’s very simple. All you’re doing is essentially sorting out and organizing what’s what. So, pretend that your business partner or one of your colleagues brings an issue to your attention, you certainly want to consider it and figure out how you’d like to deal with it. Otherwise, say that you have a sense of inadequacy that feels heavy and you can’t seem to shake off. it’s important to recognize that this feeling is not grounded in reality and that it simply isn’t fair to judge your work on it. By engaging in this process, you get to choose what you need to divert your attention to and get your ducks in a row.

2. Use imposter syndrome as a cue to move forward

Do you know the anxiety that you feel, followed by self-inhibiting behaviors? When you notice that anxiety shows up, instead of doubting yourself and fading into the background, use it as a cue to get out of your comfort zone, move forward and challenge your own limits. So, when imposter syndrome pays you a visit, you can either back down and try to shrink yourself, or instead, leverage it as an opportunity to take a healthy risk and grow.

This not only helps you overcome imposter syndrome, but you actually get to use it to your advantage - total win!

3. Manage your expectations

For many of us, knowing what to expect can be really helpful because it eliminates that shock factor and allows us to be more mentally prepared. It’s great to be aware of any triggers that may bring on imposter syndrome or heighten its intensity. So, say you have a big new project, an interview, or maybe even a networking event you’re going to attend, it can be super helpful to manage your expectations and recognize that you might just get some good ol’ imposter syndrome. If you’re aware of your triggers, this can allow you to expect that it may come up, and to also take the time to do whatever you need to do to take care of yourself.

4. Practice self-awareness

This one’s super easy and simple and can go a long long way. A great way to tackle imposter syndrome is to simply notice it when it comes up - that easy. When you notice the fear, guilt, and self-doubt creep up, you want to try and label it as imposter syndrome, rather than some dirty secret that you’re trying to hide. Here’s the deal, imposter syndrome is not necessarily real, even though we do a great job convincing ourselves of that narrative. Just recognizing that it’s natural for imposter syndrome to show up and to also feel real can be a relief and perhaps even liberating. If you can try and get into the habit of recognizing it as it shows up for you, this is a great way to get on track.

5. Remind yourself that imposter syndrome is part of the process and to be expected

It is important to recognize and remind yourself that imposter syndrome is just a part of the process, and not about you - in other words, it’s circumstantial and just not that personal. Even though we all want to feel unique and special in certain ways, imposter syndrome definitely is not one of those things that is unique to anyone in specific. A simple reminder that imposter syndrome is simply a part of the process and is to be expected can be a helpful way to alleviate your anxiety and further build your confidence.

Keep in mind that there’s a good chance that those around you feel the same way about themselves, even though it may not seem that way. Despite the many inconveniences of imposter syndrome, I’ve got to say that an upside is that it does go to show that you actually care about the work that you do, and for that, you’ve got lots that only you can offer.

In need of support? Connect to get started.