Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: A Guide

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: A Guide

It’s time to ditch the stomach-dropping Sunday Scaries for good. Here’s how. 

Picture this: You're sitting in your first team meeting at your new job, nodding along as colleagues discuss projects you've never heard of—and instead of tracking the conversation in your notes, your stomach has a pit in it—and you feel like they can see straight through you. 

Are we close? 

You're not alone when it comes to dealing with imposter syndrome at work. In fact, the condition is fairly common; as up to 80% of the workforce has dealt with it at one point. (Yikes).

The good news? Overcoming imposter syndrome is possible—and we're giving you the exact steps you need to silence the inner critic, once and for all. Read on to learn more about overcoming imposter syndrome. 

You're Not Alone (And You're Not Actually a Fraud)

Let's get one thing straight: that voice in your head whispering "you don't belong here" is wrong. You do. 

We're not just saying that. It's science. Imposter syndrome will have you feeling like you're a fraud, despite what your resume shows. Why? Because your brain is trying to protect you from potential failure by being overly cautious in its understanding of what you reasonably can do. 

It sounds like it's bad news, but it's actually good news. Your brain can be retrained.

And don't forget—the level of stress you're feeling right now is (likely) not a true representation of what you'll feel several months from now, either because you're learning about overcoming imposter syndrome, or because you'll have settled into your new role. It's 10 times worse when you're trying to manage imposter syndrome in an unfamiliar situation because it's easier to feel like a fraud. 

Take a second and ask yourself: What if your fresh perspective and willingness to learn aren't weaknesses? What if they're exactly what many employers are looking for?

The Root Causes (Why Your Brain is Playing Tricks on You) 

While imposter syndrome can surface when you're in an unfamiliar environment (like a new job), there are plenty of other triggers to be aware of:

Shiny, polished social media DITLs and #corporategoals Reels: Social media has always been an Olympic-level comparison game...and it only gets worse as you scroll and see everyone doing better, more, and generally succeeding like you wish you were.

Except...it's so easy to miss what you're doing WELL when you're busy looking at everyone else. What you're not seeing behind that thin pane of glass is their 2 AM panic attacks about quarterly reports, or the email they sent this morning ending with "Best Regurts." We just don't see it all—and we have to hold space for our own growth steps.

Perfectionism. If you're here, you've likely found out that perfectionism is imposter syndrome's best friend. The unfortunate reality is that our world isn't black and white, perfect or ruined. It's shades of gray. So, if you are a recovering perfectionist working on overcoming imposter syndrome, be aware of this trigger—and plan to fail and learn accordingly. 

Practical Strategies to Fight Back

It's time to silence imposter syndrome and lead into your potential for success. Here's how to start:

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• Embrace being a beginner. Remember what we asked you at the start of this piece: What if your "newbieness" is actually a superpower, instead of something to be ashamed about? Your questions not only teach you—they teach managers how to teach others. They illuminate gaps in older legacy systems. They inspire others to be just as motivated as you are. They aren't a mark against you. Remember: Companies hire new grads because they want fresh energy and perspectives, not because they expect you to be an industry authority. 
• Prepare your elevator pitch. Beyond helping you prepare well for your next performance review, using an elevator pitch is a great way to acknowledge your achievements without negative pre-framing. To start, write down your qualifications, skills, and past work "wins"—then, verbally summarize them without language like "kind of," "sort of," or "if you think so, too." This works because you're actively giving your brain indisputable evidence that you're competent and qualified.
• Set learning goals instead of performance goals. This approach takes a massive weight off of your performance and allows you to succeed in a more healthy way. For example: Instead of thinking "I need to nail this presentation," try "I want to learn how to do this skill by this date."

Takeaway

Working on overcoming imposter syndrome is no small task. The first step? Understanding that it's not a personality trait or a character flaw. It's just a sign that you're challenging yourself. Push through this, and you'll come out confident and ready for the next challenge on the other side. 

(We know this works, because we've been there!) 

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