How do you feel when someone calls you an expert in your field?

I was recently invited to present at an IPAA event online, for an hour of power about imposter syndrome, its impact, its prevalence in the workplace and ideas to reduce it. I started off reflecting that it’s ironic that when I am called an “expert” in this space, I feel like a massive imposter!

Well, 320 plus online registrations later, various prep meetings, set up processes…and this little thing hovering around my shoulder was getting louder, yelling fraud, fraud, fraud.

To put it simply, imposter syndrome is the experience of feeling like a phony. You feel as though at any moment you are going to be found out as a fraud, like you don’t belong where you are, and you only got there through pot luck.  Sometimes, we are so self-conscious about being found out in some way, that we prefer to take the easier route and downplay our personal talents and achievements.

So here is a great tip. In order for us to dive deep and talk about how amazing we are, we need to unlearn what we were told growing up as children by our parents, guardians and society.  

We need to start to: 

• blow our own trumpets, 
• not quit while we are ahead,
• be seen and be heard…and
• earn that participation badge or medal. 

In my career to date, I’ve spent decades looking for validation, affirmation from authoritative figures in the workspace and thereby given them the power to dictate whether I was successful or not! 

You need to know that imposter syndrome can be your greatest strength as it means you’re conscious of your abilities. It means you’re aware that you could continue to improve. You were born to be real, not perfect!

• Do you feel like you haven’t truly earned your work title (despite numerous qualifications and achievements)?
• Do you shy away from applying for job postings unless you meet every single educational requirement?
• Even if you have been in a role for a while, do you feel you still don’t know enough? 

Who are you at your best?  What do others say about you?  What do your closest friends, partner, or family members say?

Research has found that what you say to yourself can actually change the way you see yourself, boosting your confidence during a nerve-racking event.

Some ideas that may work to reduce your feeling of being a fraud.

• Have a healthy sense of self-esteem and self-worth, a person needs to accept both their strengths and weaknesses. Nobody is perfect, and mistakes are an inevitable part of life. Strong self-esteem and confidence are going to be integral to your job search success.
• Learning to accept that things sometimes go wrong, can increase resilience and mental well-being.
• Challenge the negative thoughts. Swapping negative thoughts for positive ones is a key step toward overcoming impostor syndrome.
• Without being arrogant, you need to be able to position yourself as worthy of consideration and comfortable and confident in your capacity to complete the job.

Practically, these things could be:

1. Make a list of at least 10 things that show you are just as qualified as anyone else for the role you are seeking. Own your accomplishments. Blow your own trumpet…create a brag sheet. Learn and grow from your mistakes.
2. Visualise success. Visualise precisely how you’ll navigate the situation — successfully — before it happens. This is a tactic that is taught to military recruits, training them to visualise how they’re going to handle a situation before it happens. Practice positive self talk.
3. Remind yourself you’re good at what you do. LI profile – fill this with recommendations from colleagues/friends. Build these up. Craft what you want those you trust and have worked with to talk about you and pump you tyres up and publish online.  Establish a trusted support network, find your tribe (inside and outside of work).
4. Mentoring junior colleagues. Find a mentor…Look for someone in your company or your field who can give you practical advice and support. This might be a senior leader, or a leader at another company that you look up to.
5. Volunteering – can be a way of discovering your inner expert.   This looks good on your resume/LI profile too.

It’s important to also remember, failure doesn’t make you a fraud. Even the best athletes screw up, the best lawyers lose cases, the best actors star in dud movies. Failing, losing and being wrong on occasion are all part of the job. I always remind my kids of this.

There is currently no specific treatment for impostor syndrome, but people can seek help from a mental health professional if they have concerns about its impact on their life.

Don’t let it define you. Learn from your mistakes and move forward. Be kind to yourself. You’re ok to make mistakes, and don’t forget to reward yourself for succeeding too.  Publicise these successes.

Chat with James@yellowboxcareers.com.au to share more of your learnings and what has worked for you.