What is Imposter Syndrome and How to Overcome it

OBJECTIVES OF THIS POST

• Understand what imposter syndrome is (especially your own definition).  It is important to recognize what this means to you specifically.  There is a general definition, but how does it sit with you?
• Explore how it manifests IN YOU
• Understand where it benefits you to overcome imposter syndrome
• Explore strategies to confront and overcome this mindset
• Hear some use cases (this is nice to read as my clients are all so willing to share their stories and you’d be surprised how there is someone similar to you.  You are not alone!)
• Learn the theory behind this (I like sharing this so that you can understand what’s happening and how to best integrate this for yourself)

IMPOSTER SYNDROME IS A MINDSET.

A MINDSET THAT YOU CAN CHANGE.

Do you:

• Think you’re not good enough?
• Constantly question yourself (Did I check this? What if… ? Could I have … ?)
• Feel uncomfortable with praise and direct celebration (being in the spotlight or called out)
• Dismiss your success to others, luck, or everything else external to yourself
• Seek approval and opinions of others (rather than release your work into the Universe and trust your work is good enough, you need multiple proofreaders, checkers, all the time)
• You can download the free “How to overcome Imposter Syndrome” worksheet to see how the mindset shows up and behaviors

In a world that often celebrates achievement and success, it’s not uncommon for individuals to grapple with feelings of inadequacy despite their accomplishments. This experience, known as imposter syndrome, can be perplexing and disheartening. At its core, imposter syndrome is the persistent belief that one’s achievements are not deserved, and that they are somehow deceiving others about their abilities. Those affected might feel like frauds who have only managed to get by through luck or sheer chance, rather than skill or competence. This sense of self-doubt can be particularly pronounced in high-achievers, where the pressure to meet expectations becomes a breeding ground for these internal conflicts.

Whether you’re encountering this phenomenon yourself or seeking to support others, understanding imposter syndrome and what it means to you is the first step toward fostering a healthier mindset and a more fulfilling life journey.

Asking permission (especially when it’s not needed), usually more indirect (subtly) such as:

• • “Is that OK?”
  • “Hope that is OK with you…”
  • “If you’re OK with it…”

You feel embarrassed or shy or annoyed when given praise (there’s an underlying denial, rejection, or pushing [diverting] away the compliment or praise) with:

• • “Oh, no no, I just got lucky.”
  • “No, it’s not me, it’s the team.”
  • “I didn’t do anything…”

8 benefits to overcoming imposter syndrome:

1. Builds self-confidence.  The key is a mindset shift.  When you go from “I CAN’T” to an “I CAN” mindset, it shifts how your energy is spent.  Looking and creating forwards.  When you have this KNOW you can, this boosts self confidence and face challenges with increased assurance.

2. Improves performance.  Once you can recognize and acknowledge your achievements, you can continue to focus on how and where you succeed. It is the reverse of “negative bias” in that, look for the positives and wins in your life.  They exist and once you believe this to be true and valid, it can continue to feed a mindset of growth and continued success.  Almost like a catch-22, in a positive way!

3. Builds greater resilience (mindset).   As you develop an awareness and recognition of your own strengths and achievements (backed by real data, situations, and your own case studies), you are equipped to handle setbacks and failures, viewing them as learning opportunities.

4. Strengthens and builds experience (1).  Like breeds like.  When you see what you can do, you do more of it.  The more you do, the more you learn and the more you experience a skills, situation, or your own capabilities.  Even if you don’t do it right, there is learning there in what NOT to do.  

5. Take on courageous and bold moves.  This is not only from a career perspective, this goes beyond taking bold and courageous moves at work, but overall in your life.  When you have confidence and a healthy growth mindset, you are more likely to actively pursue and pitch yourself to career advancements, new projects, and leadership roles. 

6. Reduces stress and anxiety.  The stress is often associated with overthinking, overanalyzing, and self-doubt. By holding on to this type of mindset and behaviors, your energy is directed to activities that hold or pull you back, things that don’t support your creation or forward direction, and drain creativity and eliminate excitement. When you can “let go” of this type of energy, it eliminates fear and doubts and allows you to invest your energy in the right places of creation.

7. Develop an authentic self-expression.  Being true and authentic allows us to lean into our gifts and strengths.  It also takes energy to hold up inauthenticity (and often we don’t realize this). By showing up as you are, your thoughts, opinions, ideas and genuine perspectives without the fear of being judged or exposed as a fraud, you exist in a sphere of genuine energy that both goes out and then comes in. 

8. Foster healthier relationships. You’d be surprised how your projected imposter syndrome energy can affect those around you, especially if the behaviors are constantly self deprecating and negative, it can be tiring to those who are receiving it.  This is important to keep in mind if you’re building and fostering healthier relationships around you – people can sense your energy!  By eliminating your imposter mindset, you can show up more positively to those that matter to you! 

There is a reason you are where you are (and it is not because you are lucky). CELEBRATE YOUR WINS! Write a list of validating reasons why you are where you are, write your accomplishments, post them somewhere you can see them all the time. Remind yourself of your achievements, wins, and what you are proud of. Repeat these to yourself. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Spend energy debunking and dismantling your limiting beliefs. These are the associations, deductions, and assumptions that keep your imposter syndrome narrative alive. Challenge them! Question them! Ask yourself what evidence suggests them to be true. These unconscious and personal biases DO NOT SERVE YOU!

Rewrite your narrative. If you can write one narrative, what will allow you to write another?  Actually, every narrative you write about yourself is true and valid. It is how you see yourself after all and how you believe yourself to be true. Spend your energy on a more exciting and creative narrative instead of feeding that energy into one that doesn’t serve you. That’s intentional about how you use your energy!