Imposter Syndrome is a common feeling among women professionals. Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong? Have you feared someone would point and say – you don’t know what you are doing, how did you ever get this job?
Overcome Imposter Syndrome
As a professional woman expert, I discuss, share and educate women on how to recognize and work around overcoming Imposter Syndrome and following are a few tips:
- Slow down to recognize your thoughts, your inner dialogue.
- Be aware of your feelings (Self Esteem) which drive your actions (Confidence).
- Think about the times you have succeeded when you were unsure about the situation.
- Remind yourself that you have the skills and knowledge to create a positive outcome.
- Find a friend or coach to champion you along when you are swimming in self-doubt.
Remember that Imposter Syndrome is common, however, few ever admit to their insecurities. Take comfort in the fact that you are not alone. If you examine your past successes, you can feel confident in your future outcome.
Five Types of Imposter Syndrome
According to The Muse, there are 5 types of Imposter Syndrome:
The Perfectionist: Do you feel like your work must be 100% perfect, 100% of the time?
The Superwoman: Do you stay later at the office than the rest of your team, even past the point that you’ve completed that day’s necessary work?
The Natural Genius: Are you used to excelling without much effort?
The Soloist: Do you firmly feel that you need to accomplish things on your own?
The Expert: Do you shy away from applying to job postings unless you meet every single educational requirement?
We have perhaps felt like one or all of these people at one point in our career. However, just because we suffer from the occasional bout of self-doubt does not mean that we aren’t qualified.
Remember: we are all a work in progress.
Dona Sarkar, Chief #NinjaCat of the Insider Program at Microsoft, explains what Imposter Syndrome is and what you can do to banish it from your life and grow as an individual. She was recently named one of Fast Company’s 100 Most Productive People.
“I believe the 7.6 billion people we share this earth with can and SHOULD develop technical skills to help achieve their goals. I’m determined to spend the rest of my life working to make this happen.”
Listen to her TEDx talk as she explains, to an audience of college students, her own personal experience with Imposter Syndrome.
The more your stretch into unknown territories and deliver value or outcomes, the more you will get comfortable with not feeling total comfortable!
Related Posts
- Quiet Your Self Deprecating Voice
- Let’s Stop and Take Our Emotional Temperature
- The Power of Words: Being Mindful
- Searching for Career Clarity and Direction
- How to Manage Career Fears
- You Are the Best Investment
JJ DiGeronimo — the president of Tech Savvy Women — is a speaker, author, and thought leader for women in tech and girls and STEM. Through her work, JJ empowers professional women and consults with senior executives on strategies to retain and attract women in technology to increase thought and leadership diversity within organizations.
Don’t miss our online resources library for eCourses, online discussions, downloads, retreats and tools for professional women. Learn more here.