Colours of Career Development

Reach for GOLD

Get past feelings of Self Doubt and recognize your personal worth, wisdom, and expertise.

BY MARION SADAVOY CAREER DEVELOPMENT COACH NEW YORK UNIVERSITY & PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN

Impostor syndrome is a feeling that many people have endured, and not surprisingly the numbers have increased tremendously during the Pandemic. One of the main issues with Impostor Syndrome is it can hold us back from advancing in our careers. By tackling intense feelings of self-doubt and designing a path to recognize your professional wisdom you can turn things around. Let’s look at the steps you can take to improve your self-confidence and transform all of your experience into an increase in income.

What is impostor syndrome and how does one get past it?

Impostor Syndrome has been defined as ‘the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills.’ It is pernicious and can hold you back from going after your goals. Impostor syndrome can occur regardless of your socioeconomic

status, education, experience, or accomplishments. Often, people who suffer from these feelings of self-doubt are high achievers who end up working harder than others, and set ever higher standards.

Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin, is the author of “Own Your Greatness: Overcome Impostor Syndrome, Beat Self-Doubt, and Succeed in Life.” She shares that a key contributor to feeling self-doubt is the label we receive in childhood. For example, you may have been labeled as “the smart one” growing up, yet you don’t believe you can meet expectations. This is often observed in people who work in highly competitive fields such as medicine or the Arts.

HOW TO DEAL WITH IMPOSTOR SYNDROME

Impostor syndrome, although very real for those who suffer from it, is not recognized as a disorder. Identifying the feelings and changing how you respond can help you get in front of them, so they don’t hold you back.

Valerie Young, author of “The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from the Impostor Syndrome” said “The goal is not to never feel like an impostor again”. “The goal is to have the tools to talk yourself down faster when you have a normal impostor moment.”

Here is a collection of tips shared by Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin and Valerie Young, to help you overcome impostor syndrome, and manage impostor-like feelings.

1. NORMALIZE YOUR IMPOSTOR FEELINGS

When you step into a new situation or face a new challenge, it is normal to feel some self-doubt.

2. REFRAME YOUR THINKING

Reframe your thinking and focus on your strengths. Change your self-talk to a more positive tone. Encourage yourself by saying things such as “This is a great opportunity for me to learn new ideas. Anything I don’t know how to do, I will figure out.”

3. RECORD YOUR SUCCESSES

Write down your successes as you move through your week and review them at the end of each month.

4. TAKE TIME FOR SELF-CARE

Be sure to do things that make you feel good about yourself mentally, physically and spiritually

5. TEAM SUPPORT

Create a team of people who care about you and can remind your of how capable you are, when you’re feeling like an impostor. If you’re feeling severe anxiety, consider seeing a mental health professional for extra support.

6. DON’T BE STOPPED BY FEARS AND IMPOSTOR FEELINGS

Take a risk, push yourself a little further and step out of your comfort zone. This act can propel you into feeling confident again. Remember, playing small may not only affect you, but also those around you including your family, friends and community. Shake off those doubts and show the world what you are capable of achieving.

HAVING THE MONEY TALK WITH CONFIDENCE

A common byproduct of self-doubt is not asking for a raise, or not pricing your independent work properly. Here are some helpful steps to follow when preparing to ask for a raise, as sited on Ca.Indeed.com:

1. CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO ASK.

Consider the financial health of the company, your manager’s workload and the time of year.

2. RESEARCH SALARY TRENDS.

Find out what other people earn in a similar position. Check out the national average salary and consider your location, years of experience, greatest accomplishments, specialized skills, time with the company, level of education and certification. Lastly, consider the cost of living adjustment.

3. SCHEDULE A MEETING

in a private setting, either by video or behind closed doors

4. PREPARE WHAT TO SAY.

Be gracious. Share your recent accomplishments and contributions

5. TREAT THE DISCUSSION SERIOUSLY.

Approach it with the same level of seriousness as an important presentation; dress accordingly.

6. BE READY FOR FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS

about your accomplishments or the salary research you’ve done. Also, be prepared for some negotiation. If a raise is not possible, learn why and consider requesting other types of compensation, such as additional vacation time.

7. THANK YOUR MANAGER

and send a follow-up email that summarizes the reasons for, and details of your request. This will help your manager if they need to ask someone else about your raise. It will also be a good record of your conversation, should you need to revisit it in the future.

PRICING FOR FREELANCERS

As a freelance creative you may find it challenging to determine what to charge for your work.

The most basic way of determining what to charge is by comparing your services to others doing similar work, in your area.

Additionally, you can look at these resources to help you:

HelloBonsai.com, www.waveapps.com, New York Freelance Rates (from Creative Circle), Australia Freelance Rates (from iknowho), UK Freelance Rates (from Major Players)

No matter how you make a living, remember to be confident in who you are and all that you can offer!