When you do something for the first time, or take on a new role at work, do you feel like you don’t know enough?
This is the natural response when you step outside your comfort zone. But feeling like an imposter can lead to crippling self-doubt and stress.
If you feel like a fraud or fake and constantly worry that your boss, colleagues, or direct reports will discover the “real” truth, you may be suffering from imposter syndrome. One of my clients, who was recently promoted to the team lead of her all-male software development team, worries that she does not know enough and fears that she will come across as a “little girl”.
If you suffer from imposter syndrome, you may find it difficult to accept positive feedback and praise from others. You may attribute your successes to luck, or to the efforts of your team. Next time someone tells you what a great job you have done, I challenge you to simply say “thank you” without giving the credit away.
What prevents you from owning and celebrating your successes?
Your brain is hardwired to focus on the negative for survival reasons. When you complete a project, do you tend to think about what went wrong rather than what went right?
For example, on her recent report card, my eight-year old daughter was in the gifted category for 6 out of 8 subjects. When I congratulated her on this incredible achievement, her first words were “what about the two subjects I didn’t get gifted in?”
You need to take steps to retrain your brain to concentrate on the positive.
I recommend starting a weekly practice of celebrating your wins both large and small. At the end of each week, sit down with your favorite journal and a glass of wine or sparkling water and make a list of ten things that went well in the past week.
Take the time to really celebrate those wins in your life before moving on to the next thing.
What’s holding your confidence back the most? Book a free Confidence Booster session here to find out: https://calendly.com/annagradiecoaching
