10 Ways to Beat Imposter Syndrome

If you’re worried about your capabilities on a regular basis, you’re not alone. Here are 10 ways to stick it to your anxieties.

Imposter Syndrome is the state of feeling like a fraud and believing your achievements are unearned. It’s a very real condition that affects people from every walk of life, in every workplace.

Do you constantly doubt your own abilities? Are you worried you’ll be ‘outed’ as incompetent or otherwise undeserving of your job? If so, you’re likely suffering from Imposter Syndrome.

Here are 10 ways you can boost your confidence, change your mindset, and beat Imposter Syndrome for good.

1. Acknowledge that you don’t know everything

When you don’t know something, that doesn’t mean you don’t know anything. Don’t let that thought spiral out of control! By taking time to learn about new issues, you are embracing a growth mindset, which is one of the fastest ways to improve everything about your own development.

2. Remember you’re not alone

According to the International Journal of Behavioral Science, 70% of people surveyed have Imposter Syndrome. That’s a wild statistic! It’s unfortunate that so many people feel this way about themselves, but it’s comforting in a sort of way. You’re not alone.

Consider that the majority of people are too busy worrying about how others perceive them to perceive you negatively.

3. Learn about your motivators

Motivation needs to be based on your core values, or it won’t stick. If you aren’t being given a good reason to show up and push yourself in your job, you’re not going to set personal goals for yourself. That only contributes to the feeling of “I don’t belong here”.

TTI Success Insights has an assessment that helps you identify and understand your motivating values called 12 Driving Forces. Learn about it here, and connect with us to take an assessment if you’re interested.

4. Find meaningful work

Once you understand exactly what motivates you, it’s time to find work that fuels your fire. 60% of Millennials said a sense of purpose is part of the reason they chose to work at their current employer, according to the Center for Generational Kinetics.

If you really believe in the work you do, you will be more motivated to succeed. A large part of that success requires believing in yourself and your own abilities.

5. Measure your progress

If you don’t have a way to see how far you’ve come, it’s easy to convince yourself that you haven’t made any progress at all.

Write down goals for the week and cross them off as you go. Keep a running tally of the tasks you complete each day, and review them at the end of the day. If your team is on the same page, make a place where you can all post achieves and accomplishments. (A Slack channel is a perfect place for this. You can also use Basecamp’s “What did you work on today?” feature.)

6. Find a mentor

Sometimes, doubt is going to get the better of you. That’s when you call in someone who knows more than you, to help you reorient yourself and get your head on straight.

By developing a working relationship with a mentor, you can get the honest opinion of someone you trust. Learning how to ask for critical feedback is an excellent skill, and more often than not, you will get the confirmation you need that you are actually on the right track.

7. Rely on past experience

Any struggle you’re facing right now, you’ve likely faced before. Think outside the box and apply your past solutions to your current problem. Very likely, the issues you’re worried about right now won’t matter in a month or a year. Get the perspective of past experience to see the bigger picture.

8. Expand your worldview

Imposter Syndrome thrives when you have a narrow worldview. Putting your energy into worrying about yourself and your capabilities limits your scope and energy.

Think about other people! You might be feeling incapable of achieving your goals, but that’s just untrue. Remember a time you helped someone with your exact skill set, and make a plan to do it again in the near future. This way, you can see your skills in action and make a difference in the life of others.

9. Start a conversation

Imposter Syndrome feels especially insidious because it’s happening inside your own head. If you never break that internal silence, you can’t get relief. Remember, many others are suffering, and they might be the people you’d least likely expect.

Start a conversation! Post this article, share briefly about your experience, ask your peers if they’re suffering from burnout; there are a lot of ways to reach out. Don’t suffer in silence.

10. Improve your mindfulness

We’ve shared before that mindfulness is the key to developing emotional intelligence. It’s also your key to beating Imposter Syndrome.

At TTI Success Insights, we measure 5 factors of emotional intelligence. One of those factors is self-regulation, which is the ability to control or redirect disruptive impulses and moods and the propensity to suspend judgment and think before acting. In practice, it is your ability to influence your emotional clarity.

By increasing your mindfulness, you will also increase your self-awareness and, crucially, your self-regulation.

Move forward with confidence!

Now that you know you’re not the only one suffering from Imposter Syndrome, start utilizing these tips! Even by reading this list, you’re on your way from feeling as confident in your work abilities as you deserve to feel.

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If you want to learn more about how to develop your emotional intelligence, contact us here to learn how you can take the TTI SI Emotional Quotient assessment.

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Jaime Faulkner is the content manager for TTI Success Insights. She believes authenticity and storytelling are the keys to successful marketing. Read more of her writing here.