Have you ever felt like you’re not good enough to do the job you were hired to do? Not because of outside factors such as inadequate on the job training but because you distrust in your own intuition and capabilities? Well, you are not alone! This is a wildly common phenomenon called Imposter Syndrome.
Imposter Syndrome involves feelings of self-doubt and personal incompetence that persist despite your education, experience, and accomplishments. Did you know there are 6 different ways you could be experiencing imposter syndrome? What type are you?
The Expert
- You feel the need to have all the answers.
- Feeling ashamed when you get something wrong.
- Needing to constantly study to maintain expertise.
The Natural Genius
- You thrive on compliments about natural abilities.
- Take on the role of feeling like you need to make it all look easy.
- You avoid challenges that you cannot immediately excel at.
The Perfectionist
- Feeling like you’ve failed unless a task is flawless.
- You get wrapped up in details.
- Procrastinating unless you have time to do it exactly right.
The Soloist
- Feeling like you can never ask for help.
- Taking on too much because it makes you look stronger.
The Superhuman
- Trying to do it all.
- Difficulty turning down requests.
- Feeling resentful if your work isn’t recognized.
The Comedian
- Using humor to distract you from your abilities.
- Minimizing yourself to avoid missing people’s expectations.
Everyone has a little bit of Imposter Syndrome when taking on a new role. It is natural, maybe even beneficial. There are a lot of unknowns, and it is typical to ask yourself if you are up for the task. That is when you double down, access resources and put 110% into figuring it out. Imposter syndrome is a natural response to growth and high performance. But, once you have been in the role for a while, you should no longer feel this way. You can overcome this feeling by focusing on three things:
- Know you are not alone.
- Recognize your achievements.
- Do not make perfection the goal.
Here’s your friendly reminder that if you’re feeling some imposter syndrome in the beginning, you’re probably doing something right!
