I'm not an imposter... am i?

​I didn’t think I had either, but I was wrong. In fact, the HR Director suggested that during 2022 approximately 85% of UK workers experience imposter syndrome.
 
What is it?
 
Ever thought:

• Why do I have this role?
• Someone is going to find out I don’t know what I’m doing
• People are laughing at me behind my back
• People know I’m a fraud

 
If not, that is amazing! But I would ask you to think about it some more.  If yes, then read on!
 
The definition of imposter syndrome by Psychology Today states ‘it is the feeling that you are a fraud. That you’ve slipped through the system undetected and any minute now someone is going to find you out. That on the surface you may look deep, but deep down you know that you are shallow’. 
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​For me, this manifested in my mind as ‘I shouldn’t have the job I have’ and at seminars or board meetings ‘I just shouldn’t be here, I don’t belong’. However upon reflection both of these were far from the truth.
 
These days I visual these thoughts as a set of old fashion scales.  On one side, I consider what I bring to the table and on the other side of the scales, my ‘mind chatter’!
 
On the side where I consider what I bring well, its over 20 years of HR Experience, knowledge of complex scenarios, objective mindset, ability to empower my peers to succeed with the support and guidance from HR.
 
On the other side of the scale it was just ‘how I was feeling’.
 
But knowing that didn’t stop it from happening!
 
That, for me, was the hard part and I don’t think it is something that you can ‘fix’ all at once, for me it’s more of an ongoing process; one that I have to revisit in new circumstances or with new people, colleagues and customers.
 
What steps do I follow?

• I acknowledge how I’m feeling in the moment.
• I check in with myself and ask whether it is fact or my ‘mind chatter’.
• If its fact, I then consider what I can do to resolve it; how can I improve, what I can do to empower myself.
• If it’s my ‘mind chatter’, then I return to visualising the old fashion scale in my mind. I then acknowledge what the scales look like in my mind.

 
That doesn’t necessarily solve it there and then, but it does help me feel that I should be in the room.
 
What is the impact of imposter syndrome?
 
The impacts of imposter syndrome can be limitless but can impact:

• Productivity
• Engagement and accountability
• Communication
• Effectiveness 
• Your relationships with your team, colleagues, and customers 

 
Remember as well that if you lead a team of people this can impact them in terms of your style, approach to situations and it could impact your retention rates!  
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The impact is similar to those mentioned in the blog on being your authentic self.  If you don’t think you should be in the role you are in or you don’t think you are qualified to be in ‘that meeting’ you are spending your time focussed on that ‘mind chatter’ rather than focussing on what you are there to do! 
 
Imposter syndrome and reducing the effects of it, can take time as I mentioned. It is all about changing your mind set and I believe strongly in completing daily positive affirmations and breathing exercises.
 
I’ve got into a practice of mediation, positive affirmations and breathing exercises in the morning which set me up for the day. I also have a coach that I meet with regularly and yes, coaches have coaches - so that we can find more solutions to my experiences and ‘mind chatter! My mind talks a lot!
 
That doesn’t mean though, I don’t have to do ‘in the moment’ quick fixes as with most things in life I find it is all work in progress.
 
Have you taken time to reflect on what you do to overcome imposter syndrome and how you manage your mind chatter?  
 
Would you like to work on your imposter syndrome?
 
Be You Consultancy & Coaching can support you!  If you are interested to find out more either for yourself or your teams, please <contact me>.  

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