Get Out of Your Own Way: 6 Strategies to Channel Imposter Syndrome for Your Benefit

“Why did they ask me to give the presentation? I’m not a public speaker!”

“I can’t believe they’re asking for my advice—I’ve only been in the field for a few years.”

“I’ve never landed a client this big. What if I mess it up?”

Sound familiar? 

These doubts are all driven by imposter syndrome. While not a diagnosable medical condition, it’s a very real experience felt by most people at some point in their life or career.

If left unchecked, imposter syndrome can hold you back in your career by keeping you in fear and doubt mode. 

But, if you understand what it is, you can harness it for your benefit and let it encourage you to work harder, expand your skills, and reach new goals.

What is Imposter Syndrome?

Let’s start with a definition…

“Imposter syndrome is an internal psychological experience of feeling like a phony in some area of your life, despite any success you have achieved in that area.” 

It’s feeling like you don’t belong somewhere or like you’re not good enough. Some “symptoms” of imposter syndrome include: 

• Self-doubt, fear, or anxiety about a situation. 
• Attributing your success to external factors rather than your own contributions. 
• Inability to assess your own competence; believe you’re worse than you actually are. 
• Self-sabotage or avoiding something challenging. 

Imposter syndrome mostly manifests itself through negative self-talk, the voice in your head that says, “you can’t do this.” It pops up when you’re facing a new or challenging situation, or where you need to exert confidence, expertise, or authority. 

And if you listen to that voice, it might very well hold you back from progressing in your career. Here are a few examples of how imposter syndrome may hold you back: 

• You work as a consultant or contractor and chronically undercharge for your time because you don’t feel like you’ve “made it” yet. You’re always hustling for more work because you’re charging too little. 
• You preface any question with, “I’m not really sure if this is right…” or “this might sound silly, but…”. The lack of confidence is evident to your manager or clients, so you don’t get a promotion or new work. 
• You’re afraid of public speaking, but know that it can help accelerate your career in research to present more papers at conferences. But because you never push yourself to do it, you miss out on opportunities. 

But what if we look at imposter syndrome another way? What if it’s actually good for you? After all, if you’re feeling some self-doubt, nerves, or fear, it’s because you’re outside your comfort zone. 

And being outside of your comfort zone often means you’re growing.

For an ambitious professional, this is a good thing. It’s important to keep learning, growing, and pushing yourself professionally. It’s the only way you’ll reach your career goals, whatever they may be. 

6 Tips to Channel Imposter Syndrome for Your Benefit

How imposter syndrome impacts your life and career comes down to what you do about it. It will inevitably show up at some point, especially as you advance in your career and work. 

When you feel the imposter syndrome creep in, will you let it hold you back or push you forward? 

To channel imposter syndrome for your benefit, you need to focus both inward and outward. 

The Inner Work

Any lasting change starts with yourself. To let imposter syndrome drive you in a positive way, you have to begin with a mindset shift and train your brain to view things differently. 

Here are two ways to do it: 

1. Counter your thoughts: Imposter syndrome prevents you from seeing your skills and abilities how they truly are. So, try an exercise where you write down some of the things you’re believing about yourself (i.e., “people don’t care about my opinion,” or “I’m not ready to present on that topic yet). Then, counter it with facts (i.e., “if they’re asking me, then they care about my opinion,” and “I just received my PhD in this field, of course I have the knowledge to present”).
2. Listen to others: Take the prior exercise one step further by bringing in a close friend or family member to support you and remind you of your accomplishments. Sometimes it is easier to listen to other people than to ourselves. 

Whenever you start feeling the symptoms of imposter syndrome or notice self-talk, stop it in its tracks and change the narrative. Instead of letting it get you down, keep reminding yourself that imposter syndrome is a positive sign that you’re pushing yourself and stepping out of your comfort zone. 

One caveat here: it is possible that you’re pushing yourself too much. Or, your imposter syndrome is causing significant mental health challenges like anxiety or depression. 

It’s important to evaluate where you are and only take on what you can. If the thought of giving a presentation or taking on a different responsibility is seriously impacting your well-being, that’s a sign that it’s more than imposter syndrome and something more serious. If you suspect this is your experience, you can visit our article with 6 mental well-being tips as a place to start. 

The Outer Work

Besides a mindset shift, you can do some things in your external environment to harness imposter syndrome for your benefit. 

Here are a few effective practices: 

1. Spend time with high-achieving people: Be inspired by others who are doing great things around you. As you get to know them and their story, you can relate to the fact that they’re also just an average person doing their best! If they can do it, you can do it. Prioritize who you spend time with, and consider joining a coworking space if you’re looking for a community. There are so many amazing coworking community benefits, like networking, impromptu socialization, and inspiration from other high-achieving professionals. 
2. Fake it ‘til you make it: Seriously. Sometimes you just need to step out and go for something, even when you don’t feel 100% ready. It helps to dress and act the part, too. Do this by dressing for the position or role you want and creating an environment to match. For example, a solopreneur may opt for a dedicated desk or private office at a coworking space because having a workspace makes you look and feel more professional than working at your kitchen table. 
3. Use visual cues: If you’ve received a high-level degree or certificate, put it up on your wall where you (and others) can see it. You can do the same with anything meaningful from your past successes, such as awards, photos, or mementos. Even an inspirational quote on your wall can work. Let them be a visual reminder of what you’ve done in the past to keep pushing you forward.
4. Watch your social media use: They say “comparison is the thief of joy,” and we tend to agree! Social media can often make you feel like you’re not good enough, smart enough, successful enough… So watch out. Be selective about who you follow and how much you engage on the platforms. 

Imposter syndrome is something that all professionals will feel from time to time, especially when you value growth and pushing yourself. 

If you learn how to channel imposter syndrome through inner and outer work, it can be the boost you need to improve. The key is to not allow negative self-talk to hold you back. Challenge those thoughts, set yourself up for success, and keep on keeping on! At The Post, we’ve got a community of professionals who will build you up and a variety of workspace options to help you look and feel the part. Book a tour today.