“Maybe my faking it, would be as good or better as someone else’s earnest attempt.”
Eric Weinstein
Do you ever feel like a fake?
Maybe it’s your job.
You feel like somehow you managed to fool everyone. Everyday you wait for the the other shoe to drop and you will be exposed for the fraud you clearly are.
The feeling you are a fake and don’t deserve your success has a name. It’s called imposter syndrome and its real.
It is an equal opportunity phenomena. Business leaders, healthcare professionals, educators, tradesmen are all at equal risk.
While there are certainly legitimate imposters out there, like the 17 year old Florida teenager who faked being a medical doctor and even opened his own practice, my bet is you are not one.
Why do we feel like imposters?
The data around imposter syndrome points to some consistent themes, self-doubt and perfectionism.
Self-Doubt usually occurs when someone experiences sudden success or a rapid promotion or role change.
They are thrust in a situation that outstrips their comfort level and soon they feel like failure is imminent and they will be seen as a fraud.
Perfectionism comes into play when individuals set unattainable high goals for themselves and then don’t achieve them.
In reality even if they achieved 90% of a lofty goal it would be more than most people. However, because it was not 100% they perceive this as failure and they are not deserving of success.
They see themselves as fakes.
How to beat imposter syndrome
Kick Self-Doubt to the Curb
Gil Corkindale in her article on the topic notes that one key to overcoming imposter syndrome is to first recognize it. You need to identify areas where you feel like you are an imposter and own that.
Realize that it is normal and actually a sign that you are probably going to succeed. As Eric Weinstein said above, your attempt at faking it may still be better that someone else’s genuine effort.
If you currently feel unprepared in your job that doesn’t mean you’re an imposter it means you are human. We’ve all seen overconfident folks flame out quickly.
Learn to embrace your imposter self and focus on performance. You are where you are at because someone saw your potential.
Push Back Against Negativity
Brad Johnson & David Smith point out that one of the ways to overcome imposter syndrome is challenge any negative self-talk. This is important, because negative self-talk left unchecked can get you into some pretty dark places.
Everyone was new to a job or position once.
Everyone has to learn.
Everyone has to screw up every now and then.
This does not mean that you are an imposter, it means you are at the beginning of the learning curve.
It takes time to become an expert.
Be Kind to Yourself
I wrote about the concept of self-compassion in an earlier post. It is an important ally in overcoming imposter syndrome.
Sometimes the hardest person to deal with in life is yourself. You need to cut yourself a little slack. Constantly telling yourself that you are a fake and not deserving does nothing but reinforce that mindset.
Change your mindset from questioning to confidence.
At the End of the Day, Be Yourself
Don’t let imposter syndrome undermine you or the value others see in you. Be yourself. It is how you got where you are.
You may not have all the fancy degrees or the years of experience, but you have something equally valuable. Being yourself.
You represent a unique mix of characteristics, education, life experiences and personality. No one else in the world has the same recipe.
You can’t fake being you.
Trying to be someone other than yourself, that’s an imposter.