How To Overcome Imposter Syndrome: 3 Steps

Do you feel like you suffer from imposter syndrome, especially in the workplace? If so, you’re not alone.

Imposter syndrome is the belief that you’re a fraud that causes you to doubt your skills and worry endlessly. It makes it difficult to accept your achievements or feel worthy of them. And the longer someone has it, the more challenging it is to get rid of.

But the good news is that anyone can overcome imposter syndrome with enough consistency and effort. In this post, we’ll share 3 simple steps you can take to get rid of it once and for all.

Let’s get started.

Practice Awareness

To change any type of pattern or behavior, you first must acknowledge it. Practicing awareness of your own behavior is crucial to taking the steps to overcome it so you can prioritize your personal growth.

Though it might be challenging, it’s important to call yourself out once you catch yourself saying negative things.

As someone with imposter syndrome, you might regularly tell yourself:

• I’m a phony and don’t possess any worthwhile skills
• I’m getting by on sheer luck instead of deserving it
• Everyone else is doing better than me

It takes practice, but once you get into the habit of calling yourself out, you’ll be able to stop those thoughts from occurring as much. They won’t go away overnight, but with time, you’ll be able to feel more confident about your abilities.

If you struggle with your sense of self-awareness, try journaling. Writing your thoughts down can be an excellent way to gauge how your mind works and what you can do to overcome feelings of inadequacy.

Accept Your Strengths

Imposter syndrome makes it difficult to accept compliments or believe that you deserve praise or positive testimonials. But once you see all that you’re capable of, you’ll no longer feel the need to turn down compliments or brush off a job well done.

It’s important not to focus on negative thoughts and make room for positive thinking instead. This is easier said than done, but there are different ways you can slowly acknowledge your capabilities and boost your emotional intelligence.

For one, learn to accept what you’re good at. If a colleague praises you for your latest project, say thank you. Acknowledge that you deserve your effort to be noticed because you matter just as much as anyone else.

Make a list of the positive qualities and skills you possess. It doesn’t have to be complex either. For example, some of the things on your list could be:

• Improving communication skills
• Using problem-solving
• Excellent listening skills
• Meeting deadlines

Embrace Failure

Successful people don’t believe that they’ll never fail. What sets them apart is that they use failure as an opportunity to grow and master their skills. It’s not something to feel ashamed of or shy away from. As long as you learn from it, it’s good for you.

No one is born an expert at what they do. It takes time, effort, and consistency. So it’s important to let go of perfectionism and understand that it doesn’t exist, no matter how good you are.

Once you’re able to let go of being perfect, you’ll feel more comfortable accepting the idea that you actually are good at your craft; you just didn’t quite see it before.

Not only should you embrace failure in your journey, but you should accept it. It’s a way to learn from your mistakes and sharpen your skills so you can become great at what you do.

Your Turn

Getting away from imposter syndrome is easier said than done, but working to overcome it is a game-changer for your mental health. It’s not healthy to constantly doubt your intelligence and worth. It’s important to build confidence so you know what you bring to the table. How will you overcome imposter syndrome?