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Knowing how to overcome impostor syndrome is crucial to accomplishing your goals in business and life.
Ever experienced impostor syndrome?
You know that sneaky feeling of impostor syndrome. You feel like you don’t quite belong. That you don’t deserve to be there. Or that you have so much to prove.
This sense of not belonging or feeling like you don’t measure up is common — especially as a new entrepreneur. Often times, even the most skilled, talented, and educated people feel a sense of fraudulence.
If you’re not careful, impostor syndrome can stop you from even getting your business off the ground! But you don’t need to let it.
Read on to see how you can learn to overcome impostor syndrome — so you can succeed in your business.
The definition of impostor syndrome
Impostor syndrome can feel like debilitating self-doubt or even panic that we don’t belong, or that we will be “found out.”
The term “impostor syndrome” was coined by psychologists in the 70s and refers to high-achieving individuals who have an inability to internalize their accomplishments and a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud.
Basically, when you experience impostor syndrome, you attribute your achievements to some external “fluke” instead of your own personal skills, talents, and efforts. You might also feel like you’re the odd one out, like you are the one who doesn’t belong.
Impostor syndrome affects women and high achievers
Studies show that up to 70% of people have experienced imposter syndrome. It’s more common in women than men, and especially in those who are overachievers and perfectionists. (Sound familiar?)
If you grew up in an environment that was highly focused on rewards and recognition (and highly criticized if that that level of achievement wasn’t met), you are more likely to feel like an impostor.
And because of this, you’re most likely to be hit with a bout of impostor syndrome when you embark on new endeavors, such as starting a business.
How to know if you have imposter syndrome
How do you know if you have impostor syndrome? Start by paying attention to your own thoughts.
Impostor syndrome sounds like a loud voice inside you, criticizing you, tearing you down, and listing all the reasons why you “can’t” or “don’t” deserve something. This lovely beast also provides excuses for you not to try something at all.
Here are some questions to see if you might be experiencing imposter syndrome.
Do you…
- Have difficulty accepting compliments or praise?
- Discount your success (i.e., “It wasn’t that big of a deal.”)?
- Fear success and being seen?
- Fear failure so much it keeps you from trying new things?
- Constantly compare yourself to others and feel like you don’t measure up?
- Feel like you don’t belong?
- Attribute your success to luck (and no part of your own)?
If your answer to these questions is “yes”, you have experienced impostor syndrome.
The real purpose of impostor syndrome
Your inner critic may sound annoying, unimportant, and useless. But it actually has a purpose.
Think of impostor syndrome as a built-in self-protection system. It wants to protect you from failing. It does this by planting seeds of doubt in your mind, hoping that you will believe it.
Consider this: If you’ve always done only what you know you can, trying something new carries with it an inherent risk of failure. Your inner critic wants to avoid failing at all costs, so it sabotages you by putting scary messages in your head.
When this voice is so strong that you actually avoid things in the name of “playing it safe,” you let it win.
That’s why it’s so important not to let impostor syndrome stop you from starting your business, from showing up online, from reaching your true potential.
The first step to overcoming impostor syndrome
Like most mindset blocks, imposter syndrome can be addressed and changed. But first, you must become aware of it and make a conscious choice of what to do about it.
Eventually, over time, you will start to notice the messages as they arise and learn to differentiate the voice of your intuition (i.e., the real you) from the voice of your inner imposter (i.e., the fearful one who wants to protect you.)
Even if you conquer it once, it’s possible that it will never go away entirely. Impostor syndrome is likely to rear its ugly head whenever you are faced with a new challenge. So you might as well make friends with it.
The first step to working with impostor syndrome is to create awareness. Notice when the voices of doubt and fear show up. Recognize that it shows up when you are on the verge of something big. Know that it is trying to protect you. But also know that it is your choice how you respond.
7 tips to overcome impostor syndrome in your business
While impostor syndrome is common, you can manage it, so that you can move forward in spite of it.
1. Notice when the voice of impostor syndrome shows up.
First, identify which areas of your life it’s showing up for you. Are you constantly looking for external validation that you “belong”? Procrastinating on something for fear of it not being perfect? Holding yourself back from new opportunities or challenges because you feel like a fraud? Choosing not to share your true feelings or beliefs out of fear? Recognize how it’s showing up for you, personally.
2. Choose to be kind to yourself.
Just because you notice the voice of your impostor doesn’t mean that you have to listen. Know that by virtue of having this affliction, you are most likely a high-achiever who has accomplished quite a lot! Instead of beating yourself up about it, know that it’s just trying to protect you. Recognize that your imposter syndrome is showing up because you are embarking on something that is important. Instead of fighting it, practice self-acceptance and self-kindness.
3. Have a conversation with your impostor syndrome.
When you start to hear the critical messages spin in your mind, stop and observe them. What is your that voice telling you? “I could never do that.” “I will fail at this.” “I’m not as good as so-and-so.” When you hear this kind of internal dialogue, pause to question it and even have a conversation with it. What does your impostor syndrome want to protect you from? How can you reassure it that you can handle what comes your way?
4. Consider the root of the impostor syndrome.
If you can, try following the thread of the impostor voice as far back as you can. Often, it’s echoing something we heard in childhood. When you can trace the message you’re getting back to it’s root, you can practice supporting and validating your past self who received those messages.
5. Give yourself permission to do your best.
Letting go of perfection is hard, but it is also freeing when you are able to let yourself off the hook and know you are enough. Instead of thinking of failure as the end-all-be-all, think of it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Give yourself permission to try new things, no matter how they might work out.
6. Share your experience of impostor syndrome.
Each time someone shares her story , more stories are brought to the table. It’s not as rare as you think — especially within groups of high achieving women. When more people talk about their experiences, we not only normalize it, but we serve as sound boards, support resources, and reality checks for each other.
7. Consider your impostor syndrome as a sign you’re on the right path.
Instead of thinking of the inner critic as a red flag or stop sign, think of it as green light showing you where to go. If you’re terrified of being found out or discovered, take the chance to show up, confront the fear, and prove to yourself you can handle it.
Marianne Williamson said,
We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
So make a commitment to shine your light, to go in the direction of your dreams, despite the fear. Think of life as an experiment rather a win-lose game. You only learn and achieve new levels of success by expanding yourself. Each time we expand beyond our comfort zone, we’ll encounter the imposter, and must choose how we will deal with it.
Coaching can help you overcome impostor syndrome
Like most mindset blocks, imposter syndrome can be coached.
Working with a certified coach can help you overcome impostor syndrome by creating awareness of why it shows up, and doing the inner work to manage it, so you can move forward with confidence.
To learn more about coaching can help you overcome impostor syndrome, sign up for a free coaching consultation.
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