In 1978, clinical psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes coined the phrase imposter syndrome. It is a pattern where people doubt their accomplishments and have an internal fear of being seen as a fraud. Early research focused on women, but this syndrome affects men and women equally.
The syndrome taps into the fear that the success we achieve comes from luck, timing or even deceiving others into believing we are more intelligent and competent than they consider themselves to be. Clance and Imes suggested several behaviors found in those exhibiting this syndrome. Their study focused on women:
Diligence – Working excessively hard to overcome having people discover them as imposters.
Feeling Phony– Some will work hard to please a boss or client so that they start to doubt themselves because they feared discovery as a fake.
Charming – Being charming (versus competent) can interfere with how you perceive yourself. You charm someone into believing your idea, then doubt the idea has value.
Lack of Confidence – the behavior becomes self-reinforcing. You lack confidence and are fearful of showing yourself as competent, for fear of being seen as less qualified. It is a vicious circle.
Advice to People I Coach
I work with several individuals who I coach to help them with their career. Often this syndrome comes up, and they mention to me that they feel unsure of themselves, especially when they enter a new job. I offer them this advice:
- Everyone experiences some self-doubt. The best way to overcome the fear is to be your authentic self and to let go of what people may say or judge. Learning to let it go is a powerful lesson when doubt creeps in.
- Convince yourself of your value. In starting a new job, find ways to add value to the organization and set up goals that help you convince yourself of your worth. If I can do X, Y or Z within 90 days, I’ll have been helpful to my new team. When you convince yourself of your worth, you start to act with more confidence and less doubt. Learn to care less about what others think and more about what you believe to be true.
- Marketing Yourself isn’t a Sign of Weakness: There is an infinite number of ways you can sell yourself and your skills to others. A powerful way is to learn to listen to what colleagues and bosses say and keenly want. There is nothing wrong with prioritizing your work with what others need – especially as you are entering a new work environment. You can still be true to your own beliefs AND satisfy the goals of your supervisors. Those ideas don’t have to conflict.
My Own Experience
I didn’t go to business school. I never studied marketing in college. I have many friends who had professional and executive skills I lacked as a marketer. At times, I felt like an imposter. Not up to the task, not as good as others and lacking in confidence.
My secret has always been curiosity, listening, and persistence. If I could keep learning and grow by being curious, I could continually improve. If I focus on listening, instead of talking, I’ll see a path forward. If I never quit, there is no finish line, and I can keep achieving.
I no longer experience imposter syndrome. I have let go of trying to measure up to others. I view each day as an opportunity to learn, to grow and to contribute. I work hard to convince myself of my progress.
The best way to overcome self-doubt and imposter syndrome is to breathe in the moments and learn to believe in yourself. It also helps to trust that the universe will provide you with exactly the tests and trials you need.
It also helps to breathe.
I coach individuals who are in work-related transition or who need help marketing themselves to find opportunities. You can set up a time to chat using my calendar. The conversation is free and we can explore if working together makes sense. Or email me at jeffslater@themarketingsage.com or call me at 919 720 0995.
