The Imposter Syndrome- Challenges and Strategies
Why do some women feel daunted as they pursue senior roles and climb the corporate ladder? To a large extent, our success in life is borne out of our mindset. Our mindset-our thoughts, beliefs, and expectations-are the lenses through which we perceive the world. And these lenses affect how we live and the choices we make every day. For some of us women, when we see a vacancy for that senior leadership position, as we read the details of the requirements, our minds, almost automatically, focuses on the experience and qualifications that we do NOT possess. We then make a mental note that we are not qualified, and we choose not to apply for the position. We may even refuse an opportunity when we are recommended for a promotion because we feel we are not ready yet.
This mindset of self-doubt can show up in various forms. It showed up when you wondered why you were selected for that promotion, when you wondered how you got a seat around the table in the boardroom with all these accomplished persons, when you could not believe that you made “it” and think you got lucky, when you felt like a fake, not knowing exactly what you are doing in that senior role. This phenomenon of capable, talented people being plagued by self-doubt has a name- the impostor syndrome.
Impostor syndrome is a term coined in 1978 by clinical psychologists Dr. Pauline R. Clance and Suzanne A. Imes referring to high-achieving individuals marked by an inability to internalize their accomplishments and a persistent fear of being exposed as “fraud”. Dr Caroline Broderick, a leading Australian psychologist, says there is still uncertainty around specific risk factors that increase a person’s chance of feeling this way. Research suggest that family dynamics, personality traits or being a minority in a workplace can contribute.
Impostorism expert Dr Valerie Young says a promotion, starting a business, or landing a new role can all trigger low self-esteem. Her research also suggests women are more likely to experience feelings of job ineptitude than men because they internalise setbacks as a failure in their ability, rather than considering external factors. Dr. Young in her book — The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer From the Impostor Syndrome and How to Thrive In Spite of It, cites a classic cartoon example where a woman tries on a pair of pants that no longer fit and she says, “I must be getting fat” while a man tries on his ill-fitting pants and states, “There must be something wrong with these pants.” Women tend to assume it’s their issue and blame themselves.
Having a fear of being “found out” as not being as smart or talented or deserving or experienced as people think, is a common phenomenon. An estimated 70% of people experience these impostor feelings at some point in their lives, according to a review article published in the International Journal of Behavioural Science. Impostor syndrome affects high achievers from all walks of life. It was Nobel Laureate Maya Angelou who said, “I have written 11 books, but each time I think ‘Uh-oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.” Despite winning three Grammys and being nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award, she still questioned her success. Fortunately, she overcame her fear of being a “fraud” and continued to pen a legacy of poems that continue to profoundly enrich the lives of readers.
Viola Davis has won Tony, Emmy and Oscar awards and delivers incredibly inspiring acceptance speeches, yet she struggles with the impostor syndrome- “I still feel like I’m going to wake up and everybody’s going to see me for the hack I am. I still feel like when I walk on the set, I’m starting from scratch, until I realize, ‘OK, I do know what I’m doing, I’m human.’”
Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, also felt like a fraud. In her bestseller, Lean In, SHE noted that for women, feeling like a fraud is a symptom of a greater problem. We constantly underestimate ourselves. Numerous studies across industries “show that women often judge their performance worse than it actually is, while men judge their performance as better than it actually is.”
Now that we know there is a name for this “thing” we feel, and we are not alone, we can focus on combating that fear, so it will not control our actions and prevent us from taking advantage of opportunities and achieving our goals.
Call It Out
Self-awareness is critical for self-development. The first step to overcoming impostor syndrome is to acknowledge it, understand what your triggers are and put it in perspective. The naming of the impostor syndrome is to start to sense control over it. The impostor feelings need not take over your life if you understand it is a response to a situation and that, with practise, you can control your response to the impostor syndrome.
Claim Your Success
Not surprisingly, when we experience that fear of being “found out”, women tend to attribute our success to external factors – we got lucky or someone helped us. Women do this more often than men who are more likely to attribute their successes to a combination of internal factors, such as sheer hard work or talent. As women we need to claim our success. A simple exercise of journaling or making a list of your accomplishments, your qualifications and successful projects, will remind you that it can’t be luck. This serves as tangible evidence of how far you have come.
Stop The Comparisons
Author Iyanla Vanzant believes that “comparison is an act of violence against the self.” While we might read biographies and admire our role models and even our colleagues, remember you aren’t here to live the life of another person. You have your own path to create. Everyone has different talents and is on a different journey. Respect and own your authentic experience. When you show up as your authentic self, you give others permission to do the same.
Talk It out
Shame can sometimes keep us from reaching out for help, but most people experience moments of self-doubt, and that’s normal. Academy Award winning actress Kate Winslet confided: “I’d wake up in the morning before going off to a shoot, and think, I can’t do this; I’m a fraud.” Fellow actor Don Cheadle also shared a similar sentiment: “All I can see is everything I’m doing wrong that is a sham and a fraud.” Sharing your feelings with a trusted friend or mentor will help you realise that you are not alone and that your impostor feelings are both normal and irrational. Focus on the progress you have made.
Improve Self-Confidence
High achievers tend to focus more on what they haven’t done versus what they have. Take Dr. Margaret Chan, Chief of the World Health Organization, for example. She once said: “There are an awful lot of people out there who think I’m an expert. How do these people believe all this about me? I’m so much aware of all the things I don’t know.” Intentionally shift your mindset from focusing on your weaknesses to focus on your strengths. Move outside your comfort zone incrementally toward a stretch goal. Set realistic goals, not goals of perfection. Celebrate your effort and milestones.
Learn To Take Praise
People who experience impostor syndrome often use diminishing language when someone congratulates them on their success. We downplay our accomplishments and devalue ourselves. You might say phrases such as “Oh, that was nothing!” Learn to graciously accept praise. Instead, simply say, “Thank you!” Be proud of yourself.
Reframe your Thoughts
Reframing your self-talk, experts agree, is an essential part of taking back control. Tune in to your internal conversations, identify it for what it is and learn to turn off your negative self-script and develop a new script that will be a rational voice, that will help reduce your anxiety and build your confidence. It helps to have a mantra reminding yourself that you’ve worked hard to earn your spot.
The impostor syndrome impacts on women in the workplace more than men and hinders them from taking that step up into leadership. As we lead the crusade for women to take a seat at the boardroom table, we must prepare ourselves to grasp the opportunity. Our initial task is to acknowledge the impostor feelings then implement some strategies. If we succumb to the fear of being “found out” we rob ourselves and the world of our unique gifts we bring to the table. Today is your opportunity to start accepting and embracing yourself, knowing that you are enough.
My article was first published in the Trinidad Guardian newspapers in November, 2018.