Overcoming impostor syndrome is no easy feat, especially since study after study shows that for women, it's almost unavoidable. Still, there are ways to rediscover our innate confidence.
Are you too hard on yourself? Do you brush off compliments by saying, “I just got lucky” or “It was nothing”?
Most people—even the most successful among us—have moments of self-doubt or admitted weaknesses, especially when it comes to the workplace. But that doesn’t take away from the work you do well or the accomplishments you achieve. And it’s important to recognize and celebrate what you’ve done well—not as a “happy accident," but as a deliberate reflection of your hard work and intelligence.
Of course, overcoming impostor syndrome—or the feeling that any accomplishment is not indicative of your hard work, but rather just luck—is easier said than done. The term, first used by psychologists Suzanna Imes and Pauline Rose Clance in the 1970s, also has links to perfectionism and can manifest in all areas of your life.
The first step to beating impostor syndrome is recognizing it for what it is. Start by asking yourself the following questions to see if you struggle with impostor feelings:
- Do you agonize over even the smallest mistakes or flaws in your work?
- Do you credit your achievements or job performance to an outside factor or luck?
- Do you struggle to overcome perfectionism?
- Is your negative self-talk out of control?
- Is your self-worth impacted when you don't do something perfectly?
- Are you sensitive to a colleague giving you feedback even if it's helpful?
- Do you have anxiety thinking that people will eventually "figure you out" or see you as a phony?
- Do you downplay your own expertise or natural genius?
- Do you have worries that you won't live up to your high expectations?
- Do you set challenging goals and feel guilt when you don't achieve them?
“The fear that others will discover you have been bluffing your way through is very real,” says Dr. Valerie Young, author of The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women. “For example, ‘impostors’ who equate competence with perfection believe every aspect of their work must be exemplary – not just some or even most of the time, but 100 percent of the time. Anything less results in harsh inner criticism coupled with deep shame.”
With this in mind—and the knowledge that you’re not alone in this battle—let’s look at how to overcome impostor feelings of inadequacy, embrace your strengths, and even just learn to take a compliment.
7 Ways to Fight Impostor Syndrome at Work
A natural place for impostor syndrome to pop up is at work. In the beginning, that anxiety of needing to be perfect might motivate you but eventually, that constant anxiety could lead to burnout, depression, or low self-esteem. Here are a few things you can do to compact the ways impostor syndrome shows up at work.
1. Stop Being a Perfectionist
Statistically, women are less likely to apply for a job if they don’t meet 100 percent of the qualifications, according to Slate. Meanwhile, men will give it a shot even if they only qualify for 60 percent of the criteria. As women, we tend to think that we must do everything perfectly before it “counts."
Many of the personality traits of a perfectionist can lead to impostor syndrome.
Stop comparing yourself to other people’s visions of success, especially how others portray themselves through social media.
You can start to overcome impostor syndrome by recognizing that you don’t have to be perfect; no one is. If you made one mistake in a presentation, you didn’t completely screw it up. You may not know everything in your field (who does?), but you don’t have to.
It doesn’t mean you’re an impostor, it means you are smart enough to continue learning. Asking a question when you aren’t sure or admitting a gap in your knowledge can actually make you look more confident in the long run.
2. Redefine "Success" + Celebrate Your Accomplishments
“Some of us feel like we won't be good enough until we have the perfect bank account, marriage, kids, career, home, car, shoes, and hair—or whatever success looks like to you,” said filmmaker Abiola Abrams.
Stop comparing yourself to the stereotypes of success, especially how others portray themselves through social media. Define what success means to you and list all the ways you’ve already achieved this.
Not only will you be on the path to fighting impostor syndrome, but you’ll recognize the areas where you still have work to do. And, as you know, high-achieving gals always love a well-defined goal.
3. Ride the Confidence Wave
Even those who suffer from impostor syndrome also have moments of extreme confidence. Maybe you absolutely nailed the quarterly report, contributed great ideas to a meeting, or earned a bonus. (Go, you!)
Dr. Young advises that we ride that wave and savor those moments. Use that feeling of confidence to encourage even greater confidence and a strong belief in what you’re doing.
It may help to keep a journal of your successes to look back on when you’re feeling unsure of your abilities and to save performance reviews, LinkedIn endorsements, or any other kind of written compliment people give you.
4. Dress + Act the Part
Ever heard the phrase “fake it ‘til you make it”?
If you start acting more confidently, you’ll begin projecting that confidence, and soon, you’ll “fool” yourself into believing you really aren’t a fraud. Or, more accurately, you will accept your true inner greatness.
Maintain an elegant and confident stance in the workplace, and choose your words to reflect strength and confidence. Avoid wishy-washy qualifiers like “I think” or “I guess” and say what you mean. Project your confidence through your wardrobe, body language, and speech.
5. Find Positive Role Models
Just a quick search on the Internet will show you that the world is filled with strong, smart women—many of them high-profile execs, authors, and even performance stars—who confess to having impostor syndrome. Even Michelle Obama has admitted to battling the symptoms of impostor syndrome.
Looking at these women can make us feel better about our own self-doubts.
If you start acting more confidently, you’ll “fool” yourself into believing you really aren’t a fraud. Or, more accurately, you will accept your true inner greatness.
Find professional and personal mentors you can trust in your own life who are willing to share their own stories of overcoming impostor syndrome and give you the boost you need. Whether you're an entry-level employee or the boss, don't forget to connect with capable people at the same career stage for advice and to reassure you that what you're feeling is totally normal.
6. Find Inspiration in Fiction
No matter how we try to act the part and surround ourselves with other successful women, a little voice inside may tell us that projecting confidence is not attractive, feminine, or proper.
That’s when you should turn to your favorite fictional characters—whether on TV, in books, or on blogs—to remind you that the girls can not only find love (if that's what she's looking for), but they can get the promotion, the perks, and, on occasion, a chance to save the world, too.
You won’t see these women brushing off a compliment, although they may face doubts as they head into a task.
And maybe that’s what overcoming impostor syndrome is about—feeling the fear and moving forward anyway.
7. Recognize When It's Deeper Than "Impostor Syndrome"
As the phrase "impostor syndrome" gained traction, we all became guilty of using it to write off lots of things. In the process, many of us neglected to call some things what they really were.
Things like:
- Diagnosed mental health conditions
- Institutional racism
- Bias
- Sexism
- Marginalization
- Toxic cultures
Sometimes, it's not impostor syndrome. Sometimes it's way deeper and darker than any feelings of self-doubt you could harbor about yourself. Additional tools like therapy can be helpful but we'd also recommend this article by Harvard Business Review. It covers the circumstances that are commonly mistaken for Impostor (Imposter) Syndrome—and deliciously debunks them.
