Jane Doe is a successful business woman. She's been promoted a number of times in her office, is regularly praised for her hard work, and has even received a few awards for her achievements in the field. Jane should be proud of herself, but she's not – deep down, she's just waiting for the day when everyone realizes that it's all been luck. She's not actually talented or clever: Jane is a fraud.
If you related to this, there's good news and bad news. The good news is that Jane isn't actually a fraud – and neither are you. The bad news: You're suffering from imposter syndrome.
Feeling like a Fake
Imposter syndrome is when successful people find themselves constantly doubting and belittling their own accomplishments. When you do well at work, you think, I was just in the right place at the right time, or, Anyone could have come up with that idea. It's easy to start thinking this way, and it's usually a sign that you're actually doing very well: As you get better at your job, you gain a stronger understanding of the field as a whole. This means you're acutely aware of everything you don't know how to do. Unfortunately, it's a lot harder to focus on your strengths than your weaknesses, and before you know it, you're convinced you don't deserve the praise or recognition you've received.
Imposter syndrome is fairly common – and, as Inc. points out, more likely to affect women – but that doesn't mean you should ignore it. The problem with letting imposter syndrome go unchecked is that it can wreck your confidence. One of the elements to success is believing in yourself. If you're constantly downplaying what you've done, or saying you're only so-so, people might start to believe you. You need to recognize and fight the urge to sell yourself short, and learn how to acknowledge your own capabilities. Here are some quick ways to battle imposter syndrome every day:
- Stop comparing yourself to others. It's easy to look at what everyone else is doing and lose sight of your own skills and talents. When you find yourself comparing yourself to others, try to think instead in terms of what you can learn from them. If you're comparing yourself, the odds are good you have some admiration for the other person. Figure out what they're doing, and see how you can bring that to your own work.
- Fill in your knowledge gaps. Instead of looking at all the things you can't do or don't know and filling up with despair, learn them. Not only will this silence the part of your brain that says, "I can't do X," but it will also give you valuable skills and knowledge that you can carry with you through your career.
- Trust feedback and results. The people around you aren't lying, and you aren't just lucky – if you're succeeding, it's because you're doing a good job. When someone praises you for a project you've completed, thank them and take the compliment at face value.
- Quit diminishing accomplishments. This kind of ties in with the last tip, but it doesn't just have to do with receiving praise. Any time you're involved in a conversation about the things you've done, whether it's a casual chat or a feedback meeting, fight the urge to downplay your results. It can seem natural – even polite – to say things like, "Oh anyone could have done that." In reality, however, you're sending a damaging message. If anyone could have done that, what makes you important? Take pride in what you've achieved.
- Forget being "perfect" – there's no such thing. Perfection is a moving target, and it will stay the same distance away from you no matter successful you become. Focus on strengthening your skills and giving your job your best effort, and you'll keep on excelling – no perfection required.