If you’re wondering how to deal with imposter syndrome, you likely already know what it is. Just in case you missed the memo, however, I’m going to refresh your memory.
Imposter syndrome is a pattern where capable people doubt their competence, attribute success to luck, and fear being exposed as a fraud, despite clear evidence of their ability. It’s not a mental illness, but instead a thinking pattern and emotional experience shaped by personality, culture, and environment.
Interestingly, studies suggest 70% of professionals experience imposter feelings at some point in their careers. And among thoughtful, reflective professionals, the number may be even higher!
Imposter Syndrome Feels Lonely
When you’re dealing with imposter syndrome, life and work can feel extremely lonely. You’re wondering when you’re going to be found out and exposed. You may worry that you’re going to be embarrassed or even fired.
It can lead you to feel like you can’t share what’s really going on with you with anyone because you fear that if they ever really knew they’d be horrified. No, you think. Better to lock it all away deep, deep inside. . .
How to Deal With Imposter Syndrome – Assess for Skills Gap
Often, people with imposter syndrome are smart, capable folks. In fact, that’s the profile of the type of person that gets imposter syndrome. So if that’s you, it can be hard to know if what you’re dealing with is a real gap in your skills (“I don’t know this and I really should”), which is how it always feels, or if you’re dealing with your own incredibly high standards.
Here are a few questions you can ask yourself (or, ideally, a non-judgmental friend or co-worker) to help you understand what’s really going on:
- Do I expect myself to be an expert in too many areas?
- Have I let success raise the bar to an unrealistic level?
- Am I comparing my insides to other people’s outsides? In other words, am I comparing myself unfavorably and unrealistically to others based only on what I can see of them?
How to Deal With Imposter Syndrome – DON’T Let Confidence be Your Guide
You might think that’s a typo up there, but it’s not. When you have imposter syndrome, your confidence barometer is off. You don’t have confidence when maybe you should. . . but then again, maybe you shouldn’t. It’s hard to know. The whole system is off kilter.
Letting confidence be your guide in this situation is a terrible idea. It can lead you to wait to feel confident before you act. Instead, recognize that confidence comes after your action, not before it.
You might be terrified of taking action – worried that you’ll mess something up and prove your imposter syndrome right. But focus on the fact that you can build your confidence muscle by doing whatever it is you’re worried about doing.
How to Deal with Imposter Syndrome – Don’t Deal with it Alone
Imposter syndrome is common – way more common than you might think – and that’s why living alone with it makes the whole thing worse. What if you were to share that it’s something you’re dealing with? What if others were dealing with it, too? (I guarantee they are.) Would you feel better?
Wrapping Up – How to Deal with Imposter Syndrome
There are many ways to deal with imposter syndrome from sharing the secret to lighten the load, to leaning into the challenge to questioning whether you really have a problem at all. But that’s just scratching the surface. That’s why I want to invite you to download my guide: How to Deal with Imposter Syndrome for just $9.
Inside Dealing with Imposter Syndrome you’ll find 30+ pages on imposter syndrome.
Here’s just some of what’s inside:
✪ The five types of imposter syndrome, and why knowing your type is key to breaking your pattern
✪ The mindset shift that changes everything and helps you drop imposter syndrome for good
✪ Four problems that look like imposter syndrome but aren’t – you might be “treating” the wrong thing.
✪ Four things you can use today to reduce imposter syndrome (number 4 is my favorite!)