Have you recently been promoted, started a new job or launched your own business? Maybe you’ve been asked to lead a project or deliver training. These amazing achievements are to be celebrated. However, has joy been replaced by feelings of self-doubt? Following on from my previous article on Accidental Managers, I want to focus on the importance of a positive mindset.
When I am training and mentoring new managers, keynote speakers and trainers, the term ‘imposter syndrome’ is often mentioned. It’s a term to describe feeling out of their depth and it can prevent them from achieving their potential. So, in this article, I want to explore how to banish imposter syndrome and build self belief.
What is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter syndrome is when you believe that you don’t deserve the role or success that you’ve gained. This form of self doubt has you questioning your competence and can lead to concerns that you’ll be exposed as a fraud. In this state of mind, it is common to downplay your achievements and exaggerate any shortfalls. So, how can you replace these thoughts with confidence and self belief?
Steps to Build Self Belief
The first fact you need to know is that you are not alone. Those colleagues and peers who look so capable may also be feeling that they are winging it. Imposter syndrome is a sign that you are stepping outside your comfort zone. As such, associate it with taking on fresh opportunities and focusing on personal development. It means you are not stuck in a rut!
Secondly, you are not in this position by chance. Whether you’ve been recruited, invited to deliver a keynote speech, assigned a project or booked to deliver training, others have seen your flair. I often hear people saying they aren’t sufficiently qualified, but qualifications aren’t the only mark of success. You have the skills, attitude, enthusiasm, knowledge and/or experience that is being sought.
Thirdly, there will be things that come naturally and others that don’t. You may struggle with some elements and may make the odd mistake, but that doesn’t mean you have failed. Acknowledge what’s gone wrong and learn from the experience. Use your resilience to work through it and solve the problem. Then you’ll know what to do differently next time.
Recognise Your Strengths
To build self belief, you need to recognise your strengths. We all have them, but we don’t always know what they are. That’s because when you are good at something and it comes naturally, you don’t see it as something special. It’s like watching an experienced artisan at work. They make their craft look easy, therefore, it’s not until a novice tries that you see the talent and skill.
To help you compile a list of your strengths, answer the following questions:
- What skills would my close friends say I possess?
- Why do my colleagues or clients like working with me?
- What advice do people turn to me for?
- What do I most enjoy about my work?
Also, consider recent achievements, including a significant contribution to team success and non-work related accomplishments. What skills did you draw on to realise those goals?
Address the Barriers
Difficult conversations, public speaking and mastering technology are just a few of the barriers that feed self doubt and knock our confidence. Unfortunately, avoidance doesn’t make them go away.
So, when imposter syndrome kicks in, what are the specific challenges that you fret about? If you pinpoint the areas that you feel inexperienced in, you can plan your response. For some challenges, you might choose to train and develop your skills. In other cases, it will make sense to seek support from someone with the necessary expertise or delegate.
A good plan also helps to break down what feels like a large barrier into smaller chunks. With SMART steps (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant & Time-bound), you can track progress and celebrate the small wins.
It’s also important to note that the biggest barrier can be our mindset. Therefore, you need to be conscious of the self-critical voice and create a new narrative. Replace ‘you can’t’, ‘you’ll never be able to’, ‘that will be too difficult’ and ‘what if’ with ‘how can I approach that?’ or ‘what do I need to achieve that?’.
Learn to Be Assertive
Having recognised your skills and addressed barriers, the next step to building self belief is to develop assertiveness. That is the ability to communicate in an open, honest and respectful way. It includes asking questions, expressing your ideas or opinions and responding to situations or comments with empathy and professionalism.
As a starting point, you might wish to complete an assertiveness assessment. This helps you to identify areas for development. I’m going to go into greater depth about assertiveness in my next article, so keep an eye out if this is of interest.
For now, if you would benefit from performance coaching or other support to overcome imposter syndrome, build self belief and realise your potential, get in touch at info@suegarner.co.uk
or 07775 624724.