Yahoo Movies How to defeat imposter syndrome once and for all
Imposter syndrome is a phrase most of us will be familiar with - and many of us will have felt it at some point. We've all been there, starting a prestigious new role or landing that desperately wanted promotion...and then desperately feeling like you're out of your depth, or that you got lucky, or that you don't deserve to be there (despite none of that being true).
The term 'imposter syndrome' was first coined in 1978 by psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes, who explored imposter syndrome in “high achieving women” (but it's since been acknowledged that men also are bitten by imposter syndrome). Now, an estimated 70% of people experience imposter feelings at some point, according to an article published in the International Journal of Behavioral Science. But what is imposter syndrome? And is there an imposter syndrome test or set of criteria you can look through to identify whether you’re struggling with it? Getting to grips with these questions can help you to, in turn, take control over imposter syndrome and – hopefully – banish it from your life.
What is imposter syndrome at work?
“Imposter syndrome at work is when a person holds the distorted belief that they are not worthy of success or as capable as people think they are, despite there being evidence to the contrary,” explains Satpal Kaur-Thompson, a Psychotherapist with experience helping people with workplace issues like stress and low self-esteem. “They fear being discovered as a ‘fraud’ as their self-doubt and overwhelming feelings of ‘not being good enough’, shame and inadequacy convince them that their achievements are down to luck or external factors, rather than talent, ability, hard work or effort.”
Kaur-Thompson adds that those who suffer from imposter syndrome “minimise, or in some cases, completely disregard” acknowledgement or validation in their work, almost refusing to accept that their work performance may be good.
“Many people that have impostor syndrome are 'overachievers' and their personal and family life suffers,” adds Jon Van Niekerk, Group Clinical Director at Cygnet, a mental health care service. “Some people also self-sabotage their relationships as they do not believe the deserve affection from others. If not managed well, it can ultimately lead to burnout and more severe mental health issues, like depression and anxiety.”
Imposter syndrome can manifest in various ways, according to Kaur-Thompson, including:
Leading us to approach our professional lives with a survival mentality, rather than enabling us to thrive and reach our full potential.
Preventing us from sharing ideas, contributing to meetings, taking on new responsibilities or embracing new opportunities (e.g. promotion), because of a lack of confidence.
Feeling alone and isolated. (In reality, imposter syndrome is very common).
Less effective work relationships and team camaraderie as a result of feelings of isolation causing people to internalise their anxieties and vulnerabilities.
Perfectionism at work, as an individual may drive themselves to reach impossible standards, putting themselves under immense pressure (which could result in burnout) in order to avoid being exposed as an ‘imposter’.
A lower self esteem which may hinder or disrupt a person’s natural career growth and progression.
In some cases, physical ailments or unhealthy coping strategies.
Van Niekerk added that some suffering from imposter syndrome may show: a constant fear of being found out as a fraud/incompetent, a sensitivity to criticism and fear of being seen as a “failure”, feelings of unworthiness of attention or affection, an agony over small mistakes at work, constantly attributing success to 'luck' or external factors, or trying to downplay accomplishments.
These manifestations can become all-consuming, as was the case for Safiya Lambie-Knight, Lead, Artist and Label Partnerships UK&IE at Spotify.
“I didn’t know what ‘imposter syndrome’ was until it affected me, but when I did experience it in the workplace, I had an overwhelming sense that I was doing everything wrong and that I didn’t deserve the job that I had been given. It [also] affected my ability to make decisions in aspects of my life beyond the workplace. Even getting out of bed to go into work was a real struggle,” Lambie-Knight says.
Imposter syndrome test
Pauline Rose Clance, the psychologist who originally put a definition to the idea of imposter syndrome, created an imposter syndrome test which you can access online. This involves answering a series of questions with numbers on a scale, then adding up your tally to find out whether you have few or frequent imposter characteristics.
There are other questions you can ask of yourself to identify whether or not you’re experiencing imposter syndrome. From her experience working with clients, Kaur-Thompson notes there tend to be three key defining features:
An internal sense of inadequacy and persistent and pervasive feelings of shame and self-doubt.
Attributing your achievements and accolades to external factors, rather than your own abilities and efforts, despite evidence that suggests otherwise.
A fear that your cover will be blown, and you will be exposed for being a fraud as you do not believe you are ‘good enough’ or up to the job.
Why does imposter syndrome happen?
There are many factors that can lead to imposter syndrome occurring at work, including being a person from a marginalised group in a space that doesn't feel inclusive. This means that the issue can be particularly difficult for women of colour.
When she was struggling with imposter syndrome, Lambie-Knight encountered that problem. “I was working in an environment where there was no one who looked like me as a Black woman and dealing with the weight of that was, in itself, incredibly hard. Specific situations and events can still be triggering for me,” she says.
As Kaur-Thompson notes: “A person’s temperament may contribute to imposter syndrome, although, often it can be traced back to the environment an individual grew up in and the expectations placed upon them, along with other contextual factors, such as societal expectations, culture, or schooling, for example.”
“A trigger for imposter syndrome could be a new role and in periods of transition (promotion) it can be normal to have a feeling that you are not capable,” adds Van Niekerk. “The combination of a new role and a usually self-imposed pressure to succeed can trigger feeling of incompetence. There is also a link between imposter syndrome and perfectionism traits and personality that are high in neuroticism.”
Van Niekerk adds that the way we were brought up may contribute to our feelings around work: “There are also some parental styles that are controlling and overprotective that can contribute to the development of impostor syndrome. Those who from families where is achievement is highly valued and where there is high levels of expressed emotion, might also be at higher risk of developing imposter syndrome.”
Imposter syndrome: How to overcome it
Even though imposter syndrome can be incredibly difficult, it’s not impossible to overcome and it shouldn’t define us. The first crucial step on the right track is to speak about your experience and listen to other people’s accounts of imposter syndrome, explains Van Niekerk: “It is okay to let the masks we wear slip to those we trust – in fact, to have more deeper and lasting relationships, it is important to show your vulnerability to the ones you love.
“Once you open up, you will be surprised how many people struggle with similar thoughts. Usually these settle down once you have been in a particular role for some time, but if they impact on you pursuing your goals or your relationships, it might be helpful to speak to a therapist.”
“When I identified that I needed to get help I spoke to a therapist and, by talking through things with her, I was better able to identify what was wrong and, more importantly, that it was something that I could fix,” says Lambie-Knight. “Eventually, when I did speak up, I realised that a surprising amount of other people felt exactly the same way as I did. This gave me the space to talk about imposter syndrome with people I trusted.”
“Talking about your feelings about imposter syndrome can really help to manage your anxieties and provide relief from the self-doubt that you may be plagued by. As it is typically based on feelings of not being good enough and shame about oneself, sharing our feelings and expressing our vulnerabilities can loosen the hold such feelings have over us,” Kaur-Thompson says. “You do not have to suffer in silence and often the thought of making ourselves vulnerable is far scarier than the reality – it requires us to take the step of getting comfortable with the uncomfortable. However, it is important that when sharing your feelings, it is done with people whom you have an established level of trust and emotional safety.”
It’s also important to retrain your inner voice to accept praise and to recognise your accomplishments and skill.
“Try to realistically assess your knowledge, abilities and accomplishments to help reframe your thinking so that success can be accurately attributed to hard work and talent. Allow yourself to hear and receive praise and positive feedback, rather than discounting it. Consciously, take a step back, before your inner critic takes hold and make both a mental and physical note of the feedback. Then, revisit this over, and over, and over again, until you start to notice your mind acknowledging your achievements in a more balanced way and you feel your confidence start to grow,” Kaur-Thompson advises.
There are lots of resources out there, from podcasts and TED Talks to books that can help you on your journey to overcoming imposter syndrome.
“Building resilience and coping strategies by listening to others and learning from them is incredibly powerful,” says Lambie-Knight. “I read a number of books and listened to some podcasts that helped me immensely with decision-making and mindfulness. My current favourite is Oprah’s Super Soul podcast.”
It’s worth remembering that, because imposter feelings are often deeply ingrained, speaking to a professional can be very helpful.
“Feelings and beliefs about being an ‘imposter’ have often been reinforced over several years and can be hard to shake off. To address the root cause, it can be helpful to seek support from a counsellor or psychotherapist [who can help you] challenge your deeply ingrained beliefs in a supportive and compassionate way,” advises Kaur-Thompson.
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