Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Sometimes we get into a position where we feel like we don’t belong, even when we have worked hard to get there. Maybe you have experienced this at work, at a university, in a leadership position, or elsewhere. This is what is called imposter syndrome. It feels as though we have not earned our success, or we think that someone else would be more deserving of the position we’re in.

When we are young, we often look up to adults and think that they have everything figured out. In reality, everyone is just learning as they go and trying to navigate life the best they can. The same thing happens in business. We think that other people know more than we do, but we don’t give ourselves enough credit. We doubt our own abilities, and we worry about what others are thinking about us.

Most of the time, other people are not thinking about us nearly as much as we think they are. They might even be thinking about how much you’re thinking of them, but all you’re thinking about is how much they’re thinking of you. It can turn into a vicious cycle, but the best way to stop it is to just focus on yourself and your work.

To overcome imposter syndrome, we must get out of our own way. We must let go of our limiting beliefs and center our attention on the things that we can do. This allows us to accomplish so much more than we realized because it helps us adopt a growth mindset. Don’t get caught up in the mistakes made along the way, and instead focus on the lessons learned. And just because there are improvements that can be made does not mean that we weren’t already in a great position. We just keep getting better with time and experience.

If you are someone who has experienced or is experiencing imposter syndrome, I want you to think about your personal situation. When did you start feeling that way? Did someone say something that put you off, or did you already feel as if you did not belong? Why do you think you felt like an imposter? Now think about the situation that you were or still are in, and imagine shifting your perspective of it. What would you have to believe to feel as though you have earned your position? Now ask yourself: what’s stopping you from believing that?

-Meghan Slaughter