Chicken Or The Egg? Which Came First?
Does work sap your confidence?
Do you hold back at meetings?
Is asking for a raise unthinkable?
Do you have Imposter Syndrome? Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes introduced the concept of Imposter Syndrome back in the ‘70s. Impostor Syndrome occurs among high achievers who are unable to internalize and accept their success. They often attribute their accomplishments to luck rather than to their own ability. They fear that others will eventually unmask them as a "fraud".
Most people are both surprised and relieved to learn that 70% percent of people experience imposter Syndrome. You’re not alone!
But, external factors can cause us to doubt our competence. Ruchika Tulshyan and Jodi-Ann Bure, two women of color wrote a recent Harvard Business Review article, “Stop Telling Women they Have Imposter Syndrome.” Feelings of discomfort, second-guessing, and mild anxiety in the workplace are caused by bullying and marginalizing the work or professionalism of women.
Tulshyan and Bure say the environment must change to foster a variety of leadership styles, and to support a diversity of racial, ethnic, and gender identities. I agree completely. I am just starting my journey to understand institutional racism, sexism, and the exclusion of non-mainstream members of our community in business. There is a lot of work to be done--by all of us.
Things will change. Awareness is growing.
But, Imposter Syndrome will continue to effect too many of us.
Asila Calhoun and I are hosting our third Unmasking Imposter Syndrome Program.
If you answer yes to any of these questions, then this program is designed for you:
Do I chalk up my success to luck, timing or computer error?
Do I believe that if I can do it, anybody can?
Do I agonize over the smallest flaws in my work?
Am I crushed by constructive criticism, and see it as evidence of my ineptness?
When I succeed, do I secretly feel like I’ve fooled them again?
Do I worry that it’s a matter of time before I’m found out?
Learn how to manage your fraudulent feelings now:
Build space between your reactions and your responses.
Respond to your triggers instead of reacting.
Notice which situations trigger self-doubt.
Fully embody your professionalism.
Keep your emotions from sabotaging your behaviors.