Five tips for naming and taming your imposter syndrome

Imposter syndrome is commonly thought of as the feeling of being inadequate/a fraud despite a reputation for success – you know, those moments when you think ‘I shouldn’t be here’. Your brain conspires against you, making you feel like you are out of control and you end up catastrophising.

Here, Charlotte Blair, one of Australia’s longest established and most experienced Gallup accredited strengths coaches, outlines some ways EAs can nip these feelings at the bud.

“The 2015 Pixar movie Inside Out is a comedy adventure inside the brain of Riley who is upset about her parents’ decision to move. Riley’s emotions are played by five characters: Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust and Anger. She bounces back and forth between these emotions with the film focusing on the interplay between these characters.

So, what about the cast in your head? The know-it-all? The naysayer? The judging self? The people pleaser? The bossy self? The perfectionist?

Each has a gift you need to acknowledge. Take the perfectionist. She is trying to make sure everything is the best it can be. But if she takes over she could slow things down. So, thank her for her gift but think: ‘It’s okay – done is better than perfect.’

Take it a step further, like Kate Morris, founder of Aus retailer Adore Beauty. She calls her imposter self ‘Kevin’ – ‘Thanks for that, Kevin. Now, zip it’.

Life is easier with an awareness of your cast. You’ll understand yourself better, recognise the roles they play, be kinder to yourself and be braver. The key is to name them, thank them for trying to keep you safe but ultimately recognise that safe is not always where things grow and flourish.

Here are some other tips for when your imposter feelings start getting in your way:

1. Remember there is nothing wrong with you. More than 70% of people struggle with imposter syndrome at some point… and I’d say some of the others are lying!
2. Recognise feelings are not facts. Both are helpful and sometimes one gets in the way of the other. Look at the facts and evidence then ask if you are the best person to judge.
3. Expect to make mistakes and learn from them. We learn more from studying our successes but failures are growth zones too. If you love learning, embrace it.
4. Create a brag file. When you get feedback on something, do you focus on the one negative comment over the 99 positive ones? Feedback is a gift but we focus on the wrong things sometimes. Try keeping two files – one with all the positives comments or things you have done well and another with the negatives. In moments of doubt, go and look – which is bigger?
5. Be brave and take action. The biggest gatekeepers can be the voices inside your head. Instead of waiting in line for someone to pick you, what if you pick yourself?

Navigating imposter syndrome can be daunting but it’s a common challenge.  Remember, you are in charge. You are the director of your own career and life journey.”