How impostor syndrome affects your work
(And a cheat sheet for how to not actually let it ruin your work)
Despite showing great results at work and/or school we often feel like we aren’t doing our best, not performing well enough. We worry about what others will think of us or about how they are better at what they do. It is normal and good to a certain extent to compare our results with others, but what is not good is the fact that we ignore our own progress and achievements and keep thinking we’re falling behind everyone else.
These kinds of irrational fears are what is known as “imposter syndrome’.
The imposter syndrome manifests in feeling like a fraud. We experience it when we connect our success and good results with luck rather than hard work, skill and effort. No matter how successful we are, we might get these feelings.
The syndrome affects the way we work and our attitude to what you do every day. And as a result it affects the quality of our life.
It is common for people who are experiencing the imposter syndrome tend towards perfectionism which in its turn leads to expectations that are not possible to achieve as well as a feeling of constant fear of failure. You might find yourself struggling to stop working on something that is already excellent while other tasks are piling up and you actually stay behind.
Another way the syndrome affects our working life is in how we value our work. It often happens that people who suffer from the syndrome are paid less (they feel they don’t deserve a higher salary) or they turn down great possibilities just because they fear they won’t succeed. It is no surprise that in the world of inequality women are more prone to this syndrome.
To avoid damaging consequences of the impostor syndrome check out our cheat sheet for how to not actually let the imposter syndrome ruin our work.
Admit unhealthy perfectionism and do it fast.
Turn it into a habit to celebrate your progress and reward yourself for fulfilling your tasks and goals in progress, don’t wait till you finish, recognise your efforts at once.
Know your strengths and your weaknesses
Make a list of things you are good at and a list of things you might need to work on more. Leave the things you are good at behind and get more time and space to improve things that really needs improving.
Talk to people
It might seem that everyone has achieved or does their everyday tasks easily and effortlessly but it is not true. Ask the people you aspire to be like about what it took them to get where they are, share your mistakes and regrets and ask for help and advice.
Learn how to deal with failure
Feeling bad about a failure will do you no good; on the contrary, thinking about what can be done better next time will give you a higher chance to succeed. Change your attitude to mistakes and failures. They are part of the learning experience, they help you practice and give you a chance to grow and actually become a better professional.
Avoid comparing yourself to others
It is important to learn how to respect your own knowledge and experience as well as results of your work. So stop comparing yourself to others; you have all the rights to enjoy and be proud of yourself.
Get feedback
Ask your peers and colleagues you look up to for feedback to realise how other people perceive you and what they think about your job. You might hear some criticism but it doesn't make you a poor professional, it just shows that you are a human being and you can learn and improve.
Next time you are experiencing doubts whether you can do something or deserve a better salary, make sure it is not the syndrome speaking. Use the above advice to recognise your competence and overcome your deep-hidden fears.
