Welcome to Addendum A of the Primary Leadership Development.
ADDENDUM A – IMPOSTER SYNDROME
In this session of the Primary Leadership Development course we will talk about developing your personal leadership style & philosophy.
However, there is something that happens to many people and if not addressed immediately it can become near debilitating and stop any individual dead in their tracks. This malady is known as IMPOSTER SYNDROME.
No one is immune to the biggest debilitating disease that leaders face. All leaders, it does not matter if they are new, still learning, or seasoned veterans, each and every one of them, you and I included, at one point or another face Imposter Syndrome. This Imposter Syndrome can strike at any time and to varying degrees. Sometimes it just starts as a simple doubt or a negative comment from someone who has no idea who you are or what you do. If you do not do something about it sooner rather than later, that little piece of self-doubt or negativity can grow and fester to the point that you can no longer get things done. You become indecisive and it can get worse.
While I am not a trained Psychologist, I do have first hand experience with imposter syndrome. There was a time not so long ago that I was being questioned about what I brought to the table by someone who was a bad micromanager. Then within my own family, I was questioned as to who did I think I was and what did I think I was going to accomplish by doing the job I wanted to do?
Oh, yeah those little nuggets of negativity can find those cracks and crevices in our mind and then they start to grow. Now if it wasn’t for that one individual in my life that told me to snap out of it and figure out what you are going to do to truly believe you are doing what is right for you and cast that negativity out of your mind. Yes, my wife prompted me to get out of the funk that years of negativity slowly built.
Now, I am not going to lie to you, Imposter Syndrome can never be eradicated but it can be controlled, managed, and minimized to no long render you Combat Ineffective. That was a term that I hope is still being used in the Army, back then we used it when “when a unit is not able to accomplish its given mission.”
As a leader you cannot afford to render yourself combat ineffective due to Imposter Syndrome. So let’s do something about it.
What is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter Syndrome is defined as a psychological pattern where individuals doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent fear of being exposed as a “fraud.”
Some of the “common symptoms” of Imposter Syndrome are: Perfectionism and Overworking, Undermining Achievements, Fear of Failure, Discounting Praise.
Who is affected by Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter Syndrome can affect anyone, regardless of status, education, training, length of experience. Imposter Syndrome however is sadly, common among High Achievers.
What Can Be Done to Overcome Imposter Syndrome?
The first step is usually the most difficult to accept but once accepted the healing can begin. Acknowledging and Recognizing you have problem is the first step. However, you should remember Imposter Syndrome is a common experience.
Identify those specific thoughts and feeling associated with Imposter Syndrome is easy to see, sadly while thoughts and feeling as already in place. Therefore, knowing what to do is critical to overcoming Imposter Syndrome. To do this, one must first actively work to reframe negative thoughts by challenging and replacing negative self-talk with positive affirmations. Then focus on your evidence of competence and past successes. Remember, once earned they can never be taken away.
The next step involves letting go of what is causing you to keep Imposter Syndrome hidden from others. Seek support and mentorship. Find a colleague or peer you can TRUST. Proceed with caution as you might find yourself in a state of vulnerability and sharing with the wrong individual can lead you further down the rabbit hole of Imposter Syndrome.
Choose wisely, the individual(s) you feel comfortable sharing with. Know there are peer support groups and professional networks that can help you deal with Imposter Syndrome.
STOP with the lofty, over the top goals which will leave you feeling unaccomplished, frustrated, defeated, and deflated. Set some realistic goals. Set the kind of goals you can actually achieve. You do this by breaking down the big goal into manageable steps. Then celebrate those achievements, especially the small ones. Now, don’t get bogged down with celebrations. You still have plenty of work to do (aka get back on the horse).
Getting back to work does not mean that you are failing for not getting things done sooner or faster. Getting back to work means you are one step close to achieving your ultimate goals. Thus, stay focused and practice mindfulness and self-care. Do this all the time, this comes especially handy when mistakes happen or things do not go as planned. Remember, to accept that making mistake are part of the entire process. Learn to accept this mistakes, missteps, and misgivings sooner rather than later.
How to Prevent Imposter Syndrome from Recurring?
At any time and for any reason Imposter Syndrome can return. It can recur without warning. Sometimes, it is fully entrenched before we recognize it has returned. Therefore, ensuring that continuous self-reflection and learning is occurring.
By this, ensure that you are regularly assessing yourself, your personal achievements, and growth. This is where keeping a daily journal becomes a huge benefit in that you can go back in time and review your thoughts, your views, your opinions on things as they occur. If you have not started a daily journal, you can right now. Today is the perfect day to start a journal. Remember to make note of your success and the positive feedback others have given you and you have given yourself.
Work on your Work-Life Balance. It is no secret that there can never be true Work-Life Balance as things are constantly changing thus it can be challenging to achieve the unachievable. However, that should never stop you from making and taking time for rest and relaxation. Engage in activities, outside of work, that will you joy and fulfillment.
Also, make time for professional growth and development. As all things, in life, are constantly changing do not let your professional life slip. It is called Work-Life Balance in that both sides need attention. Let your work slip you will find yourself doubling down on trying to recover your work side of the see-saw, then you find yourself working to get the life side of the see-saw back in balance. Pay attention to both or you will find yourself on the wrong side of both, do what you can to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Maintaining a healthy balance comes from cultivating a Growth Mindset. This means you must embrace challenges and when they occur, view failures as opportunities for learning. Learning to make better mistakes. Mistakes are a certainty, so do not kind yourself into believe you can never make mistakes. They are going to happen, get used to it.
Additionally, do no forget about feedback. Feedback is a very much needed tool for growth and self-improvement. Of course, take the feedback (positive and negative) with a grain of salt. Most people are not well versed in the art of feedback. Some feel that feedback must be given even if they do not know how to give it. Others give only negative feedback without any clue on what else to include. So be careful.
As mentioned, feedback is something that must be developed. Encourage a culture of feedback and improvement from your teams. Your personal and professional teams. We cannot get better without feedback and we can only get better when people are authentically giving feedback and you are genuinely accepting the feedback.
A word of warning/caution: Make certain you can decipher the feedback you are getting. Some individuals will give NEGATIVE feedback because they do not know any better. Do not let them get you down and most certainly, do not let their negativity become a stepping stone for Imposter Syndrome to return.
Another thing that can be done is to find and connect with support networks such as mentors, online groups, professional associations. Do regular “check-ins” with those within your support group.
Participate in ongoing professional development and training. By intentionally, work on your growth helps towards dispelling any myths or misconceptions that also fuel the Imposter Syndrome.
Another word of warning/caution: when selecting a mentor, peer support, friend, or even a family member be absolutely certain that the trust in what you are wanting to share will not be violated. There are those that will only get close and gain your trust to use it for their own nefarious reasons or against you.
As previously stated, Imposter Syndrome will always try to creep back into your life. By taking Proactive approaches and intentional action you can stop it before it becomes a problem, again. Looking at yourself and looking at how others see you will help you in developing a plan of action to take now, not later. Pay attention to the feedback you are receiving and sift through what is genuine and what is not.
What to do if Imposter Syndrome does returns?
It can happen. It can happen in a blink of an eye. Imposter Syndrome will find a way in, even if you are being proactive. There will be something or someone that says or does something and you immediately find yourself doubting yourself. What can you do? What should you do? What must you do? There are solutions and answers to help get you back on track.
First off, start by revisiting coping strategies. Go back to your journal and take a deep look at what happened and how you dealt with it. Reflect on what you have read (or remember) and apply those previously effective techniques. Do not forget to adjust accordingly to suit your current and unique situation. Additionally, include reminding yourself of past achievements, competencies, and capabilities. Once earned they can NEVER be taken away.
When Imposter Syndrome returns, it is perfectly acceptable to seek professional help. A licensed professional will work with you through counseling or coaching you in order to get that additional support to help overcome the return of Imposter Syndrome. If your organization has Employee Assistance Programs (EAPS) then utilize those services as they are part of your fringe benefits. Use them, that is what they are there for.
Of course, you can always communicate with Trusted Colleagues. As mentioned Imposter Syndrome is not unique to just a selected few, everyone is at risk. Therefore, you can be sharing something that others may have already gone through or are going through. Either way, know who you are sharing with, ensure it is someone you trust and can keep the things you share confidential.
Once you found the right individual, for you, then you can open up about your current feelings and experiences as they pertain to the Imposter Syndrome you are currently dealing with. Also know that when sharing with Trusted Colleagues you are gaining and understanding their perspective and advice as they may have SIMILAR experiences but also know that all experiences and situations are different. Extrapolate from what they share and apply it to your unique situation.
Lastly, when it comes to dealing with the return of Imposter Syndrome, it all boils down to one thing: how you deal with it. Therefore, it is essential for you to engage in Self-Care practices. Remember it is critical for you to prioritize your mental and physical health. If you are not at the top of your game when it comes to mental and physical health then what good are you to yourself, others, and your personal & professional goals? You must ensure you are making yourself number one in all that you do.
Stress can have a way of helping foster (or fester) the growth of Imposter Syndrome. Again, prioritize yourself by practicing stress-reduction techniques such as meditation or exercise or both. Do what it takes to reduce the stress you may have. You can do this by talking a walk, lifting weights, jogging, resistance band, going for a bike ride. Do what you can to stress your body and not your mind, soon you will find that Imposter Syndrome has no place in your day-to-day life.
Imposter Syndrome affects millions every day. Imposter Syndrome is not the end of being a LEADER or Subject Matter Expert. In fact, Imposter Syndrome should be the stepping stone to reinforce who you are, what you know, and why you do what you do and not something that stops you from being the best you can be. Identifying and Dealing with Imposter Syndrome as soon as possible is best, especially when it comes to new or up and coming leaders.
Thank you,
David Guerra, MA, MBA
References for Further Reading:
- Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The Imposter Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 15(3), 241-247.
- Sakulku, J., & Alexander, J. (2011). The Impostor Phenomenon. International Journal of Behavioral Science, 6(1), 73-92.
- Young, V. (2011). The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from the Impostor Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It. Crown Business.
- Orbé-Austin, L. & Orbé-Austin, R. (2020). Own Your Greatness: Overcome Impostor Syndrome, Beat Self-Doubt, and Succeed in Life. Ulysses Press. https://www.amazon.com/Own-Your-Greatness-Overcome-Self-Doubt/dp/1646040244