6 Ways to Defeat Imposter Syndrome

Whether you are an entrepreneur, a freelancer, a manager at a Fortune 500 company, a startup founder, or a new graduate just starting your career, chances are you've felt the dreaded imposter syndrome.

According to Psychology Today, imposter syndrome - or 'perceived fraudulence' - is a psychological phenomenon where individuals doubt their accomplishments and face an unrelenting, internalized fear of being seen as a fraud despite education, experience, or accomplishments.

To put it simply, it's the belief and feeling that you're a phony.

With the continued rise of social media showing so many "picture perfect" lives, it's no surprise the mental phenomenon is alive and well in 2022.

An early study by Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes focused on women facing the phenomenon. However, since then, studies have shown that imposter syndrome can affect anyone, regardless of profession, gender, or education.

Despite its name, imposter syndrome is not a psychological disorder but a mental roadblock to overcome. Based on self-doubt, a lack of confidence, and perfectionistic tendencies, the imposter syndrome mindset affects people like us every day, convincing us to stop, give up, and sit back down. It limits us, keeping us from gathering the courage to go after new opportunities or dreams.

The good news: beating imposter syndrome requires no medication. As a solopreneur and freelancer, imposter syndrome and I have a strong history. I have let that little voice stop me too many times before. That is why I'm sharing the 6 ways to stop imposter syndrome in its tracks.

Overcoming imposter syndrome once and for all

1. Say no to perfectionism: Simply put, perfection does not exist in the real world. If you keep waiting for everything to be perfect, you will never get anywhere. Take it from a serial perfectionist; that mindset only slows you down and adds more doubt and fear. It is far better to start somewhere and build on what you have than be forever standing still striving for a false ideal of excellence.
2. Write down your accomplishments: Seriously. Write them all down. Large or small, keeping a list of your achievements, skills, and successes will reinforce the belief that you have value. Keep adding to that list and celebrating the wins as you learn and grow. Did you sign a new client? Pass a class? Got a promotion? Did you fail at something but learn from it? Write it all down and celebrate!
3. Lean on others: Avoid the urge to do it all yourself. Build a network with like-minded people who will encourage you to grow and offer guidance. Chances are others have done something similar to what you're trying to do and have already overcome hurdles you're facing. A great place to find this kind of support is on Facebook groups or LinkedIn.
4. Talk it out: Ignoring the problem only makes it harder to overcome. Giving voice to your imposter feelings makes them less overwhelming. Talk to a trusted friend, a mentor, a therapist, or a group of peers to help rationalize the emotions. They will often remind you of all the reasons you are qualified and that it's all just in your head. Talking about imposter syndrome normalizes the issue, encouraging peers to share their experiences, too.
5. Stop comparing yourself to others: Everyone has a unique skill set at their disposal. Resist comparing yourself in your journey to where someone else is in theirs. Every time you compare yourself to someone else, you will find some fault in yourself, reinforcing the belief that you aren't good enough. (News flash: You are good enough.) Be aware that using social media can increase feelings of inferiority. Try to limit your use or, if that's not possible, keep in mind that social media doesn't show the full story.
6. Create a vision board: What do you want to accomplish? Think of the long game. Visualize what success looks like for you. Create a vision board to look at when you start to doubt yourself or lose sight of the goal. What do you need to do to get there? Take baby steps and just get started. Roadblocks and missteps will happen. They happen to everyone -- even billionaires. Use these moments as stepping stones and continue learning as you go.

Remember that imposter syndrome is a mindset and is beatable. Your success is not luck. It's not a mistake. When these feelings creep up, face them and use the steps above to work through them.

Success doesn't mean perfection. Don't let your self-doubt be the thing holding you back. Be honest with yourself about what you're feeling and, if you're still struggling, speaking to a mental health professional can help.