Unmask Imposter Syndrome and Enjoy Lasting Confidence
When you put on a mask for a masquerade ball, everyone knows it’s fake — Including you.
But with imposter syndrome, our mind convinces us the imposter mask is real. The truth is, the mask of imposter syndrome is as bogus as the character it leads us to think we are.
My own imposter syndrome has held me back from doing more videos on social media — which is weird because I can stand up in front of an audience of hundreds of people to present. Wild, right!?
So how do we avoid falling into line with an imposter mindset? Let’s explore the origins.
What does imposter syndrome feel like?
“Incompetent,” “just lucky,” “a fraud,” are all things we may call ourselves when, in reality, we’re intelligent, capable, and hold tons of achievements, big and small.
The persistent presence of imposter syndrome, which mostly affects women, plays out in several ways.
Chronic self-doubt, perfectionism, and difficulty accepting positive feedback are just a few.
Photo by Allie Terrill from Getty Images
So how do you overcome imposter syndrome to enjoy the lasting confidence innate within?
Here are 5 ways:
Accept The Uncomfortable Feelings
From salesperson to CFO, imposter syndrome doesn’t discriminate.
Having an awareness and learning to first accept imposter syndrome is important.
When I encounter imposter thoughts, I flip it and remind myself of my long-running career experience, and the amazing people I’ve worked with. Yet when it comes to communicating, I hold back sometimes, finding it difficult to be courageous enough to open up.
A useful exercise might be to express our feelings with trusted friends, family, or a mentor.
Acknowledging your feelings will:
Lessen the overwhelm,
Move us beyond these common emotions,
Grant us more mental control and a fresh perspective.
If and when imposter syndrome pops up, pause and reflect on what you’re going through, and recognize these feelings for what they are — a pointer to work on your mindset, and potentially an area for growth.
Acknowledge Your Skills
Similar to how teachers, farmers, and other crucial occupations — and skillsets — are often overlooked, our small yet significant achievements can be diminished too.
What to us might seem easy, simply necessary, or a quick certification and unimportant to others, is often an impressive achievement.
Take time to identify both large and small skills and successes regularly.
When my imposter syndrome creeps in, I pull from my past experiences, realizing how I can help others create cultures of respect, trust, creativity, and collaboration.
In paying attention to our wins, we inspire our own damn selves, realize our strengths and competence, and build our confidence all in one fell swoop.
Learn New Things
Sometimes, what triggered your imposter syndrome is a valid insight into something you may want to work on.
Over time, work to reframe your thoughts to more gently point you in the direction of what might be a weakness or area for growth.
In the meantime, make learning new things fun!
There are many avenues you can use to enhance your areas for growth:
Podcasts — via mobile device or a PC.
YouTube — nearly 4 billion videos as of 2024.
Books — over 32.8 million titles on Amazon alone!
Social media — use the algorithm to benefit your learning journey.
Courses — a plethora of course sites for on-the-go learning in your own time.
Set Realistic Goals
Putting unnecessary pressure on yourself is a no-no.
No one can do it all. So if you’re able to build a team, do that without a second thought.
Additionally, avoid arbitrary burnout by breaking down your goals into manageable tasks. And don’t place unreasonable expectations on yourself.
Even leaders have their limits! We’re all human after all.
In my career, I often felt that, without a traditional leadership title, “I can't be a leader."
Overcoming this misconception has become a cornerstone of my business, Ripple Effect Leadership.
Now, I focus on empowering others to embrace their leadership roles, confidently lead their businesses, and effectively manage themselves, especially when facing the challenges of imposter syndrome.
Find A Mentor Or Other Support
A mentor can be a great help to ridding yourself of imposter syndrome.
Chances are, they’ve dealt with it themselves and will challenge your doubts about your potential.
Finding a supportive network will also assist you in unmasking imposter syndrome.
While it’s hard to see what you’re really made of, someone on the outside might see it in an instant.
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm EST
Join My FREE LIVE Webinar
Want a deeper dive into how you can use the above to unmask your imposter syndrome?
Get the full breakdown, plus access to time planning and adaptability techniques in my new webinar, Vision to Reality: Get Unstuck and Lead Your Biz to Success.
We’ll get real about modern methodologies you can adopt to unlock time freedom, reach your business goals, and become a massively confident leader in 2024 and beyond.
Sign up now for the event taking place on February 27th at 12 PM EST. You’ll also get FREE Leadership bonuses and could become a lucky prizewinner!
Thank you so much for reading. if you enjoyed reading this post, please consider joining my email list and stay up-to-date with my services, programs and free resources to empower you to lead - regardless of your experience.
Janic 💜
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