A BETTER YOU

IMPOSTER SYNDROME IN THE WORKPLACE by Dr. Lisa-Moné Lamontagne

The feeling of not being good enough to be in the position you’re in and being the only one who thinks so can be debilitating. It is an internal struggle and often you think you are alone in feeling it, but this is actually more common than we realize.

Imposter syndrome, identified by psychologists Pauline R. Clance and Suzanne A. Imes in 1978, is defined as the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved despite their objective success. This term applies to both male and female high achievers, although the term was first coined to explain why high achieving women often attributed their success to luck rather than accomplishment.

While pursuing my doctorate, I experienced imposter syndrome by constantly comparing myself and my experiences to others. Dr. Valerie Young identified five “imposter” types that imposter syndrome sufferers tended to fit: the expert, the perfectionist, the soloist, the superwoman/man, and the natural genius.

Some clear signs of this condition include:

• Burnout - You overwork yourself, calling it “perfectionism” but really you don’t want to be found out as not having it together.

• Low job satisfaction - You think your colleagues all have it together and are more competent.

• Low self-esteem- Leads to a decrease in your job performance.

It is important to put on your oxygen mask first before helping others. If you’re experiencing symptoms of imposter syndrome, here are some ways to overcome them: • Find your community - This can be on LinkedIn or social media. Find people who share similar experiences in your field and/or industry. You need a safe space to share ideas and get advice.

• Find your community - This can be on LinkedIn or social media. Find people who share similar experiences in your field and/or industry. You need a safe space to

• Utilize EAP - If your company offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), utilize it! Free, confidential counseling will help you sort out your stress and anxiety.

• Remember, it’s okay to be human and make errors. Don’t let that define you; Own your mistakes and learn from it.

The workplace, depending on its culture, can be a breeding ground for imposter syndrome. Think about your workplace. Does the work environment support new ideas? Failing? Continued learning? As HR Professionals, you can help the employees in your organization by: • Helping to shape your organization’s culture- create an environment that celebrates innovation and lifelong learning.

• Helping to shape your organization’s culture- create an environment that celebrates innovation and lifelong learning.

• Create healthier workplaces- incorporate mental health initiatives, holistic performance management assessments, support managers and provide them with tools to support their team members.

• Share resources- Often benefit providers have tools to support mental health in the workplace, provide those resources to your employees.

• Creating onboarding programs that set new employees up for success.

Leadership, along with managers and HR, need to create a healthier environment for their employees and help to shape their organization’s culture. Create an environment that celebrates accomplishments and innovation. Allow your employees room to try new things without dismissing ideas. Creating these safe spaces at work can lead to greater job satisfaction and productivity. u