Have you ever felt like an Imposter? Yes? Then today’s newsy is for you as it’s about how it shows up for leaders and what you can do about it. Yep this is one thing you can put time and energy into and “control”. Last newsy I wrote about Optimism. In this time of uncertainty, it offered a reminder to bring focus back to what you can control. Read on for tips about how to manage your Imposter Syndrome.
As part of the Australian Grain Leaders Program, we facilitated a short workshop about ways of managing Imposter Syndrome last week. It affects around 82% of people and occurs more for women than for men. This means it’s something to watch out for as leaders set visions, challenge how and try new things. If you’re stretching yourself, out of your comfort zone and are worried about how something is going to land with others– then watch out – this is a perfect time for an Imposter to appear.
“Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where high-achieving individuals doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as “frauds,” despite evidence of success. Symptoms include chronic self-doubt, attributing success to luck, perfectionism, and fear of failure”.
– American Psychological Association
If you want to go into detail about the types of Imposter Syndrome and why they show up for leaders then take a read of anything that Dr Valerie Young writes on the subject. Based on research, she talks about their being 5 common Imposters;
- The Perfectionist
- The Expert
- The Soloist
- The Natural Genius
- The Superhuman
If you’re interested to see which ones might be showing up for you then Click Here for more information.
A few years ago in the Australian Future Cotton Leaders Program, a researcher dedicated their time to how Imposter Syndrome shows up and most importantly what leaders can do to prepare for it, normalise it and take responsibility for working with and through it each and every time.
We know that people who feel like imposters, hold themselves to unrealistic, unsustainable standards of competence and expectation. It’s a no / never win situation. It’s really important that you adjust your beliefs about what it takes to be competent. And to accept that perfect isn’t always possible.
Here are some practical tips to help manage the Imposters when they show up in your leadership role and space.
1. Recognise the Facts. When Imposter Syndrome hits, breath and look at the bigger picture. Jot down the facts that support the out of comfort zone activity you’re doing eg on stage presenting. And monitor your self talk and override the not true things that are coming up. Facts never lie.
2. Cultivate Self Compassion. This is about shifting from external to internal validation. It’s linked to self worth. Mindfulness is key as it’s all about comfortably being yourself regardless of what’s happening around you and your accomplishments. It’s about knowing and feeling you are enough just the way you are.
3. Let Go of Being Perfect 100% of the Time. As Brene Brown says, it’s about progress over perfection. Accept you don’t (and can’t) know it all and greet each leadership challenge as something to work through, rather than something to get “right”.
4. Share Your Failures. We usually see all the good bits and not the ‘failures’ or the things that didn’t go so well behind the scenes. Take some time to chat with colleagues about what’s happening for you, and I guarantee you, they will share right back things that didn’t work for them. There’s real power in knowing that the people you may have thought knew everything or deliver a perfect speech actually don’t!
5. Accept It! Imposter Syndrome isn’t a disease but it is something that may pop up each time you take something on or are challenged outside your comfort zone. Normalise it. And accept, it’s another leadership tool. Something to use and not something to fear or run away from.
Over to you.
Do any of these resonate for you? Could any be helpful in the way you think about yourself, your inner chatter, in your work and relationships today?
