3 minute read
Impostor Syndrome: A Professional’s Unfortunate Push
Maya Angelou once said, “I have written 11 books but each time I think ‘Uh-oh, they’re going to find out now’”. Albert Einstein confided in a friend, saying that “the exaggerated esteem in which my lifework is held makes me very ill at ease. I feel compelled to think of myself as an involuntary swindler”.
These two were prominent members of the society in their respective fields, and knowing that they had these negative thoughts about themselves seems unrealistic. But this is the reality that professionals are continuously facing – the impostor syndrome. What is it exactly?
Impostor syndrome is a mental state in which a person doubts their own accomplishments and ends up having a constant internalised fear of being ‘found out’ by the people around them. They believe that every achievement they made was merely a stroke of luck, and they shouldn’t be credited for it.
What causes it?
Some experts believe that it stems from one’s childhood experience. If you grew up with highachieving and talented siblings, you might develop feelings of inadequacy in everything that you do, as you compared yourself to them. On the other hand, others associate it with a person’s personality traits, such as perfectionism.
ACKNOWLEDGING THE SYMPTOMS
There is a number of possible signs you can see in a person experiencing this syndrome, such as:
• Worrying that they will not live up to expectations
They set their goals higher than normal and then blame themselves for their incompetence when it is not achieved.
• Attributing their success to outside factors
They never consider their achievements as the result of their own efforts, but rather as luck.
• Self-sabotage
Procrastinating, not taking up opportunities when offered and continuously berating their achievements.
Dr Valerie Young, an internationallyknown expert and author on impostor syndrome, has identified five types of ‘impostors’:
• The Expert
The Experts won’t feel like they have accomplished something they are working on until they are perfectly sure that they have uncovered everything about the subject.
• The Perfectionist
Perfectionists, as their title suggests, aim for perfection and are often experiencing anxiety, doubt and worry when their goals are not fulfilled.
• The Natural Genius
This type of impostor is naturally able to master new skills faster than most people, so when they fail to do just that, they would feel ashamed and start to undermine their true ability.
• The Soloist
Soloists prefer to work alone as they believe that reaching out and asking for help will expose their ineptitude. Even when they are offered help, they would usually reject it so they can prove their worth as an individual.
• The Superhero
Also known as the workaholic, this type of impostor excels in a lot of areas, and too often push themselves too hard to achieve their aims.
How to deal with it?
Even if it sounds like an unavoidable condition, there are ways to lessen the severity of impostor syndrome. Sharing the misery of facing it with someone can be one way of dealing with it as it helps you to distinguish between your perception with the reality of the situation.
Documenting every achievement and celebrating every success no matter how small or big they are can help you to stop discrediting your own hard work, and they work as reminders that you deserve every little achievement that you made.
The most important thing in dealing with this state of mind, though, is to learn how to be prepared whenever those dreaded moments are coming. Surely, comparing yourself to others’ achievements has become a hobby to you, especially when you are faced with roadblocks in your professional pathway. You should stop doing that, and accept that every person faces different challenges every day. Remember that you have come far from the starting line, and every step made is a growing experience.
IT’S A CALL FOR MOTIVATION!
While it is an uncomfortable mindset to have, impostor syndrome also carries a few positive impacts along its path, as it:
• Indicates that you are challenging yourself
A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing will grow there. You will always be prepared for new challenges and will do your best to overcome them.
• Keeps your ego in check
Being an expert in a field comes with an attached ego to it. Realising that there will always be room for improvement will keep your feet on the ground.
• Signals that you are gaining experience
The more you know, the more you don’t know.
Impostor syndrome arises when you become better at what you’re doing – a sign that you are gaining experience throughout your professional journey.
