It is estimated that up to 70% of employees experience impostor syndrome at some point in life, the feeling that you’re not as good in your career as others think you are has nothing to do with skill level or competence, but the impossibly high standards people set form themselves, according to The Journal of Behavioral Science.
Impostor syndrome can happen at any time in your career. Remember to tell yourself that your career did not come by chance, and where you are now and where you aim to be is justified. Know your worth and have conviction with your career goals.
Even though so many people experience impostor syndrome, the good news is that it’s not a permanent condition but rather a reaction to a set of circumstances, unrealistic self-expectation and stress. Here are some tips to beat impostor syndrome at work:
Accept praise and know your worth
Don’t shy away from praise and compliments. Accept your achievements and if need be, write them down. When you try to talk yourself out of feeling confident in your role, all the proof is on paper. Knowing your worth means allowing your work to speak for itself and letting others see it too.
Stop thinking like an impostor
Learn to recognise self-defeating thought patterns and replace them with more positive affirmations. The only way to stop feeling like an imposter is to stop thinking of yourself as one.
Don’t seek perfection
Stop believing that if you don’t excel at every facet of your job that you’re a failure at all of it. Facing challenges and losses is a key part of growth, so recognise that you don’t have to be good at everything.
Know you are not alone
Impostor syndrome tends to be the domain of overachievers, while underachievers tend to internalise less when faced with failure. If you’re constantly worried about not being good enough, chances are you’re in good company – most successful people constantly over analyse themselves.