Sometimes, you can be your own worst enemy. That little voice in your head telling you that you’re not good enough is often one of the only obstacles standing between you and success. This is especially true for professionals who suffer from imposter syndrome, or the belief that you’re not as competent as others perceive you to be.
Professionals who suffer from imposter syndrome are prone to burnout because they tend to overwork, feel the need to prove themselves at everything, and can have a difficult time delegating tasks. To help you boost your confidence and productivity, nine members of Young Entrepreneur Council share the most effective strategies they know for banishing imposter syndrome for good.
Q: How can professionals banish imposter syndrome for good? What’s an effective strategy you’d recommend?
1. Evaluate Your Skills Objectively and Critically
Imposter syndrome results from a lack of confidence, and one thing that builds confidence is competence. Look at yourself critically and evaluate your skill set. Where do you feel you aren’t good enough objectively? What do you need to do to get better? Write down a self-improvement plan and go for it. – Solomon Thimothy, OneIMS
2. Ask Yourself if Your Achievements Are Just Luck
I’ve found the best way to beat imposter syndrome is to ask yourself if everything you’ve done up until this point is luck. Odds are, the answer is no. We tend to hyperfocus on mistakes while letting all of the good things we do pass us by. I believe that reflecting on all that you’ve accomplished and recognizing that your accomplishments are more than luck is the first step to crushing imposter syndrome. – John Turner, SeedProd LLC
3. Act Deliberately Confident
I think the way you push back against feelings of insecurity is to exude confidence. But it’s important to remember that acting confident isn’t always a natural, innate skill. Having insecurities is part of the human condition. We can hone our confidence by acting deliberately confident. By doing so repeatedly, being confident will become just as natural as feeling insecure can be. – Kyle Michaud, Experience Expositions
4. Separate Feelings From Facts
Any time imposter syndrome sneaks up on me or if I feel intimidated by those around me or unqualified, etc., I separate my feelings in the moment from the facts. The facts don’t lie. The facts are I have the experience, knowledge, and education to get the job done. My feelings are the only thing stopping me. Once I started identifying this, I stopped struggling with it. – Nic DeAngelo, Saint Investment Group
5. Keep Yourself Grounded in the Moment
One way to find out whether or not you’re falling victim to impostor syndrome is to look at what you were doing just before things began to go wrong. It’s much easier to ignore impostor syndrome in a situation whereby you have already accomplished the goal than it is to acknowledge it in a situation where the goal is unattainable. – Candice Georgiadis, Digital Day
6. Find a Mentor to Help You Navigate
The first you can do to deal with imposter syndrome is to find a mentor or someone who has been in the position you want to be in. They will have been through the process before and can help you navigate it without any mistakes. Another strategy is to stop worrying about the decisions you make because they won’t be good enough for everybody. Remember that you’re doing your best. – Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner
7. Focus on What You’ve Done Right
One way I curb imposter syndrome is by reviewing my accomplishments. It’s easy to get caught up in feelings of self-doubt when something goes wrong. Instead of dwelling on my mistakes, I focus on the things I’ve done right. I’ve found that this mentality helps me look at complications as fun challenges that I have to conquer, which can banish imposter syndrome for good. – Chris Christoff, MonsterInsights
8. Look at the Underlying Flaws in the Concept
You can banish imposter syndrome for good by looking at the underlying flaw in the concept. We irrationally believe that there are people out there who are “perfect” and that they have some fundamental abilities that make them right for a job or position. Of course, this is untrue. When we realize that this assumption is the basis of imposter syndrome, we’ll realize that we’re deserving. – Blair Williams, MemberPress
9. Talk to Your Team of Managers and Employees
You can beat imposter syndrome by talking to your team of managers and employees. It’s easy to feel like an “imposter” when you’re starting an entire business by yourself. As your team grows, make sure to stay in constant communication. You’ll find that by leveling your ideas and thought processes with others, it’s easy to see and fight off what I call the “imposter brain.” – John Brackett, Smash Balloon LLC
These answers are provided by Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most successful young entrepreneurs. YEC members represent nearly every industry, generate billions of dollars in revenue each year, and have created tens of thousands of jobs. Learn more at yec.co.
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