Photo by RDNE Stock project: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-people-brainstorming-7413863/
Have you ever felt self-doubt at work? How about not belonging at work? It’s common to experience these signs of imposter syndrome, which can be frustrating and uncomfortable, especially if you are starting a new job and don’t have as much experience or are faced with a difficult task.
However, research shows that up to 70% of people experience imposter syndrome at some point in their lives, not just early on in their careers. Many successful professionals experience feeling like an imposter and question their abilities at work. You will likely experience imposter syndrome several times throughout your career as you continue to take on more responsibilities.
The solution to overcoming imposter syndrome and self-doubt is not to get rid of these feelings and thoughts but to manage them by observing what comes up, honouring yourself, and knowing that none of it is inherently true.
You are more capable than you know, and while it may be challenging to believe it – you are given this job for a reason! You are qualified to do your job well, and here are some tips on working with imposter syndrome.
Celebrate Your Small Wins, Challenges, and Lessons
One of the best ways to overcome imposter syndrome is to celebrate small accomplishments throughout the day and over the week. Take the time to jot down specific examples of tasks and projects you’ve worked on, any problems you solved, and the skills you learned.
This will help you focus on your strengths and ability to overcome challenging tasks, providing concrete evidence for your future self as you advance in your career. Consistently tracking and reviewing your accomplishments on a regular basis will shift any feelings of self-doubt to self-trust and self-confidence!
Receive Support and Feedback from Your Community
Asking for feedback and receiving support from your community is empowering for your personal growth and career development. You want to seek honest feedback from at least a few peers who know you well, such as family and friends, mentors, managers, and colleagues. Ask them about your character traits, such as: what makes me unique? How would you describe me?
Also, get feedback on your strengths, including your achievements outside of work, as well as the skills you possess. You want to gather objective information on how others perceive you and view yourself positively to gain confidence in yourself and your abilities.
Adapt an Abundant Mindset
Overcoming imposter syndrome is not an overnight process. However, you can work on making incremental changes in shifting your mindset. Adapting an abundant mindset allows you to be open to taking risks and making mistakes at work because you know your experience will help you grow.
Other mindset shifts, such as being “brave, not perfect” and “practice builds confidence,” permit you not to attach your identity or self-worth to your work.
Remember that you get to be in this job, learn new skills, and take on more opportunities. You don’t need to prove your worth – you can overcome the hardships you face, and you have your community to remind you of this!
Originally published at TalentEgg.