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:
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