I feel like a fraud! 10 tips to beat Imposter Syndrome

Do any of these sound familiar?

“I only got this job by luck”

“Everyone else is more qualified than me”

“I don't deserve to be here”

“I'm a fraud”

“They're going to find out who I really am”

If you haven’t heard of it, dictionary.com defines Imposter Syndrome as: “Anxiety or self-doubt that results from persistently undervaluing one’s competence and active role in achieving success, while falsely attributing one’s accomplishments to luck or other external forces.” In other words, you don’t take credit for your successes even though you have actually earned them.

If you go through life worrying you’re going to be found out – that people will discover you’re just faking it – don’t worry, you’re not alone. Imposter Syndrome affects far more people than you may think. In fact, 70% of the population has had Impostor Syndrome at some point in their life. It affects men and women of all ages, in all professions and walks of life, including rock stars, politicians, actors, and activists.

Still not sure if this is you? Ask yourself this. Do you…

—Doubt yourself

—Find it hard to assess your competence/skills

—Attribute your success to external factors

—Berate your performance

—Worry you won't live up to expectations

—Over-achieve

—Sabotage your own success

—Respond badly to criticism, even if it's constructive

—Set very challenging goals and get disappointed when you fall short

Ok, so now you know you have a little Imposter Syndrome! Read on to find out why and for 10 ways to fix it.

Why do I have Imposter Syndrome?

There are various schools of thought on what contributes to imposter syndrome. It’s likely a combination of your inherent personality traits, experiences you had in your childhood, and the environment you find yourself in now:

Personality traits

Perfectionist

Anxious

Neurotic

Childhood

“My grades were never good enough”

“My siblings always outshone me”

“In order to be loved I needed to achieve”

Environment

“I'm the youngest person here”

“I'm the only woman”

“I'm an immigrant in a foreign country”

Ok. Now I understand why I have it. But what can I do about it? Read on for 10 ways to overcome Imposter Syndrome.

What can I do about it?

The good news is that, by slightly adjusting your thinking and behavior, you can learn to recognize, challenge and counter those sneaky thoughts. Here are 10 tips to help you overcome impostor syndrome. 

1. Question the thought

Notice the thought: ‘I'm feeling insecure.’ Observe it, but don't engage in it. Ask: ‘Is this thought helping or hindering me?’ Remember, thoughts aren't facts.

2. Be OK not being perfect

Are your self-imposed standards too high? Because it's OK to be average! It’s OK to make mistakes – they're part of the process. It may be uncomfortable for you, but try pushing yourself to act before you feel 100% ready. And learn to celebrate what you HAVE achieved.

3. Steer away from external validation

Take constructive criticism seriously, but not personally, and simultaneously nurture your inner confidence with positive self-talk. Make time for your hobbies and passions too.

4. Develop a growth mindset

Stop beating yourself up when you don't meet your own high standards. Don't tell yourself you're not good at something. Instead, try and practice. And identify specific, changeable behaviors you can improve over time.

5. Ask for help

No-one is expected to know or be able to do everything, and asking for help is OK. It doesn’t make you appear incapable. In fact, you’re only slowing your team down when you don’t ask for help.

6. Realize you know enough

Many apparent 'experts' have, in fact, only just read up on a topic! Don't procrastinate because you think you don't know enough. Try just-in-time learning; if your role changes, you can study then. 

7. Practice positive self-talk

Catch the negative thought and replace it with an affirmation: I deserve to be here. I work hard. There is no rush. I am good at what I do. I am qualified for the job. They hired me for a reason.

8. Log your wins - and don't blame it on luck!

Keep track of things you have achieved. It could be results achieved at work, recognition from clients, praise from co-workers, challenges overcome or projects completed. It could be views on social media. It could be times you spoke up, or even times you’ve made a difference in someone’s life. All of these, and more, count as wins.

9. Talk to a friend

They'll probably understand and will likely even be able to share their own experiences. In the process, you’ll feel less alone and may even come out of it with some useful advice.

10. Talk to your boss

Talk to your boss to see if they can help you work through it. They may be able to give you opportunities to shine, and/or identify ways to track your successes.

If all else fails, remember this: most other people out there are feeling the same as you. They’re also trying to do the best they can with what they’ve got. It’s really just a question of who’s faking it the best!