What is known today as impostor syndrome is a psychological phenomenon (despite its name, it does not amount to a mental illness) that leads people to be incapable of assuming their successes as part of their own merit, becoming believe that they enjoy a status that they do not deserve and that it is due to fraud. Because of this, these people develop problems both in their relationships and in terms of their self-esteem and their work projects.
But… How to beat imposter syndrome? In this article we will talk about it.
These are the ways in which impostor syndrome makes us feel bad when interacting with other people in a work context.
1. It makes us feel like we have something to hide
Seeing ourselves as impostors, We assume that we are where we are because others do not know anything relevant about us ourselves, so we feel that at any moment “the truth” can come to light and we must try not to reveal that information inadvertently.
On the other hand, imposter syndrome means that, even if our work situation improves (for example, if we are treated at the company), we see this as another threat, a sign that the lie on which our society has supposedly been built. race continues to complicate our situation practically without us looking for it. Due, we feel more pressured and we assume that we will not be able to adapt to new responsibilities, something that can lead to self-fulfilling prophecy.
3. It leads us to always think about our defects
Due to this dynamic of trying to hide the alleged fraud, the person obsessively thinks about defects, to try to anticipate situations in which they would be evident. That’s why many people find it difficult to try to overcome imposter syndrome.
4. It leads us to value ourselves in competitive terms
Imposter syndrome causes our self-esteem and self-concept to be formed through a competitive perspective, based on constant comparison with others. This generates psychological wear associated with stress.
5. It causes us to focus on the short term and try to overcompensate
The person with imposter syndrome does not believe that their employment situation is stable, so they will not develop ambitious long-term projects and will settle for trying to delay the moment when their lack of skills and competencies are revealed for everyone to see. .
Tips to overcome imposter syndrome
If you notice that imposter syndrome is affecting you too much on a daily basis, either because of how bad it makes you feel or because of the problems it causes in the workplace, you should know that The best way to overcome it is to go to psychological therapy ; Ultimately, having personalized psychological assistance offered by a professional is something that makes a difference. Now, these general tips that you will find here can also be useful to you as long as you are able to adapt them to your particular case.
Remember that part of what makes a good professional a good professional is that is able to assertively communicate what their limitations are, so that teamwork and task assignment make sense and are sustainable. Therefore, it assumes that it is normal for everyone to be able to talk about those areas in which they do not perform adequately and need help or delegate tasks.
2. Set specific goals
If your goals are specific, It will take some mental effort to invent excuses to attribute this progress to luck. On the other hand, if these goals remain in the realm of abstract ideas, it will not cost you any effort and consequently you will still not be able to value your achievements.
3. Notice the failures of the people you admire
Nobody is perfect, and focusing on the imperfections of those figures you have been idealizing will help you stop applying reverse logic to the way you see yourself.
4. Compare yourself primarily to your past achievements
If you get used to comparing your “I” of the present with your “I” of the past, it will be easier that you leave behind that hyper-competitive mentality and have a more realistic notion of your achievements. Yes, it is true that imposter syndrome makes us attribute our successes to luck, but that does not change the fact that the same logic could be applied to what we achieved months or years ago, so you will still have a criterion with which to estimate your progress. and learning.
If you get used to seeing your failures as possible material from which to learn, you will also stop obsessing about them and turn the page more easily; In fact, you will find the task of detecting flaws in your way of proceeding stimulating.
6. Reward yourself on special occasions
Difference between the most mundane goals and the most ambitious ones, so that when you achieve any of the latter, you have a reason to celebrate. In this way you will have a notion of opening and closing professional cycles, something useful to reinforce self-esteem and overcome impostor syndrome.
7. Talk to someone about how you feel
Expressing our feelings of anguish and guilt is a good way to confront them and stop attributing more importance to them than they have. Besides, It will help you organize your ideas about it.
Do you want to have professional psychological assistance?
If you are interested in having the support of a Psychology professional to help you face and overcome imposter syndrome, contact me.
Am Thomas Saint Cecilia, psychologist specialized in the cognitive-behavioral intervention model; I serve adults and adolescents in person or online by video call.
