Do you constantly feel that you don’t deserve the job you have and that they will discover that you are a fraud in your work? Known as impostor syndrome, it is estimated that more than 70% of professionals will suffer from this psychological phenomenon at some point in their career. The consultant, Walters People, offers a series of tips to detect the symptoms of impostor syndrome and learn to deal with them.
Symptom 1: Difficulty accepting praise
Even those who are most successful in their professional lives can experience moments of inner uncertainty. People who suffer from this syndrome do not congratulate themselves when they receive awards and achieve success, on the contrary, they tend to justify it not by merit but by luck, or even by an error of judgment on the part of their boss, having difficulty believing that they really deserve it. what they get
Failure to internalize your achievements can become a problem, especially if your goal is to advance professionally. If you are constantly afraid of not measuring up, it will be difficult to take advantage of your potential, and you may hesitate for no reason when it comes to accepting a positive evolution in your career.
Solution: Acknowledge and celebrate your success
Remember that you have not come this far by luck, but because you worked for it, so you deserve the success you have obtained. It is healthy to remind yourself of this from time to time. Reflect on the path you have traveled and your achievements – remember the awards, successful projects and positive feedback received from people you value. None of that was by chance.
Symptom 2: Trying to be the office superhero
Another common symptom of an “imposter” is the inherent need to be “the best of the best.” When you fail to achieve your goals, usually very high and without anyone’s help, you feel like a failure. A feeling that perpetuates the toxic cycle of perfectionism and ends up resulting in a permanent self-sabotage.
Solution: Lean on others
There is no reason to be shy about asking for help or admitting that you don’t always have all the answers.
When you are struggling to achieve your goals, talk to a mentor or co-worker – with support you will have less reason to feel stressed and will increase your confidence in achieving what you have accomplished. If you don’t have a support team, maybe it’s time to ask for one or find a job that offers one. It’s a good idea to ask yourself if your negative thoughts and insecurities were created in your workplace.
Symptom 3: Constantly comparing yourself to other people
We all compare ourselves to other people, but when this happens in excess it can become an unhealthy habit. Feelings of envy and low self-esteem can be created, even depression. Using another person as a benchmark for yourself can make you believe that there is something wrong with you and that you are the problem.
Solution: Focus on your goals
Redirect your energy and attention to your next goals and objectives, and to what is necessary to achieve them. Learn to recognize when you are making toxic (and unfair) comparisons with yourself, and try to distract yourself from these negative thoughts that do not contribute anything.
Cultivate a positive relationship with your boss so that you can talk openly about your ambitions and goals within the company. If you’re applying for a new job and you’re not feeling very confident, ask a group of friends to write down five qualities about you. This dynamic can be very positive in terms of self-confidence. It will also serve as a reminder to focus your attention on yourself, and not on superfluous comparisons with other people.
You feel like an impostor: what now?
Overcoming impostor syndrome requires you to accept yourself: you don’t have to achieve perfection to deserve the success you’ve achieved and the accolades you’ve received. It is not about lowering the bar, but about adapting it to a more realistic level, which does not always leave you below your goals and make you feel frustrated.
Conversely, if you think you’ve already tried all of the above solutions and things haven’t improved, it may be time to take stock of your current job and corporate culture, which may be negatively affecting you. A more supportive and understanding work environment can increase your self-esteem and have a great impact on the development of your professional career.
