When we face a challenge we’re bound to feel a bit out of our depth. If we didn’t it wouldn’t be a challenge would it?
Whether it’s getting promoted into a new role, taking on more responsibility or working on something that’s high profile in the business, we’re going to feel some doubt and uncertainty. It’s often referred to as imposter syndrome. Doubting yourself, questioning that you can do something, feeling out of your depth.
While this can sound negative, feeling this way is normal and it can be helpful. Like my Dad used to say to me about nerves before a big game of football, you feel this way for a reason; it means something to you and it’s your body’s way of getting all your senses sharp and muscles flexed. It’s getting you on your game.
The problems come when we let the imposter syndrome run riot; when it stops becoming a case of natural doubt heightening our senses and builds to an overwhelming feeling of inadequacy. This can happen when we’re also adding in our own internal and imagined issues and threats. In other words, we start adding our beliefs and assumptions to the mix. These are the things we tell ourselves what we’re bad at or will happen in certain situations.
Of course, this is a very simple way to describe a complex process but if you’re struggling, try starting here:
- Remember we all feel like this at some point — people won’t rush up to tell you but there will be others in your office that feel like this. If we didn’t feel out of our comfort zone at some point, we’d never move forward.
- Notice it — being aware of the fact that you might be doing this means you can start to do something about it
- What am I adding? Once you’ve noticed you might be bringing more to the situation than is there, take a minute or two to ask yourself, what assumptions and beliefs am I adding? Challenge it.
