Imposter Syndrome: Identifying and overcoming self-doubt at work

Do you ever feel inadequate and incapable at work? Do you feel that others are better and that you are unable to add any value to the task? If you resonate with any of these, you could face Imposter syndrome. Self-doubt and criticism often go hand in hand for individuals who set very high expectations to evaluate themselves against. But, it is possible to overcome imposter syndrome by setting realistic expectations, using practical evidence before you make a decision and having a growth mindset. 

Experiencing imposter syndrome at work is not uncommon. The competitive and high-pressure environment can stimulate feelings of criticism and judgement for oneself.

Here is what an imposter syndrome can look like in our everyday lives at work:

1. Second-guessing your decisions or feeling the urge to run it by a colleague first.
2. Feeling incompetent to set boundaries and therefore being flexible or easy going. 
3. Fear of saying no.
4. Fear of breaking out of a comfort zone due to fear of criticism or failure from others or self. 
5. Easily getting taken for granted.
6. Low self-confidence and self-worth.
7. Procrastination.
8. Minimizing achievements and success.
9. Misjudging your work and calibre.
10. Self-rejection.

If you face imposter syndrome, you first need to sit with yourself and try to understand the reason behind it. Sometimes things such as negative feedback at work, your manager’s remark, a colleague’s comment or even your failure to deliver a great deck can stir a lack of confidence and a feeling of inadequacy in you. It is natural for human beings to be affected by negative evaluations of themselves. But when the negativity starts interfering and causing damage, it needs to be dealt with. 

1. Approach yourself with kindness: Kindness is one of the most underrated currencies of today. Being kind to yourself means not beating yourself up for the mistakes you made but simply learning from them. Mistakes are inevitable, and one mistake does not have the power to define your worth. Kindness will allow you to be gentle with yourself while you work on rectifying your mistake or learning new ways to deal with it. 
2. Let go of perfectionism: Being perfect is very subjective. The mere definition of perfectionism can evolve based on a timeline. Things that were considered ‘perfect’ 10 years ago are not perfect or ideal anymore. And therefore, chasing perfectionism could also mean chasing impermanence. Allow yourself to explore and be open to new ideas. You are allowed to change your opinions, learn new things and unlearn old ways. Focus more on building consistency and discipline than chasing perfectionism. 
3. Inculcating a growth mindset in your everyday life: A growth mindset is a mindset that believes in not looking at your state as permanent. For example, failures or unexpected outcomes will keep creating challenges for you but your mindset and strength are bigger than the challenge itself. A growth mindset allows you to create more opportunities and resilience within you because it believes that you can always develop the required skills and knowledge through being consistent and hard-working. It is a mindset that lets you be more solution-focused than problem-focused. Having said that, inculcating a growth mindset is a process and it requires you to take constructive criticism, keep challenging yourself, and reflect without really being harsh on yourself. Mental training and discipline require you to have some self-control but it can be achieved through learning effective coping mechanisms such as positive self-talk, and rational thinking. 
4. Confidence is not a destination: Confidence is not a one-stop destination. It can be built and contrary to popular myth, failure can actually help in building confidence. Failure can give you re-direction and can reorient you to better opportunities. Lack of confidence and self-doubt often hamper you from making decisions. But confidence is not a prerequisite. Every time you take a step, you build a step towards gaining confidence.
5. Celebrate milestones no matter how big or small: This is crucial because it makes you acknowledge the amount of effort you have taken in achieving your goals. 
6. Seek professional help to overcome negativity and anxiety: Sometimes you may also require an additional nudge in order to navigate this. A Mental Health Professional can help you detangle your thoughts and empower you by teaching helpful ways how to think rationally and effectively to overcome negativity and self-doubt. A psychologist can also help you learn to be more compassionate with yourself as you continue to navigate your challenges. 

FAQs:

How can one celebrate their success?

You can choose to keep a journal or even create a folder on your phone/ laptop where you write or even post all the positive feedback and appreciation you have received for yourself. While choosing feedback, you can choose any feedback that helps you boost confidence, and make you feel good and motivated.

How to identify imposter syndrome?

It involves identifying patterns of self-doubt and negativity and minimizing your achievements due to a known/ unknown factor. The factors can include fear of failure, perfectionism, comparison with peers and low confidence due to misjudgement of your calibre.