How do you manage imposter syndrome?

21 Comments

1. Eloisa JacintoFebruary 5,2024 at 8:27PM UTC

   Hi there. Yes, you cannot learn everything in 6 months or even longer. For one, the world is evolving on a regular basis which means learning is a daily exercise. Don’t be discouraged. Take things one step at a time, expand your on-the-job experience and get a good mentor who can help and give you the right feedback (both positive and negative). When imposter syndrome hits me, I seek feedback myself and it helps me put things in perspective. Good luck!

2. AnonymousFebruary 5,2024 at 8:53PM UTC

   Thank you. That's great advice.

3. Stephanie IngleFebruary 6,2024 at 5:25PM UTC

   Agree. This is good advice. The first time I heard about imposter syndrome, I started balling. I had NO idea others experienced this feeling, I thought it was just me! I was a year into my PhD and had already completed an MS and BS and managed to move to another country on my own to pursue the PhD, even though I had never stepped foot out of the US prior! This was about 25 years ago…

   Point is, most of us face this all the time, some of the time, or on an occasion or two. It really stings. Therapy can help a lot. As can a great mentor - even a peer mentor. I also suggest listening to or reading some Amy Cuddy talks/books. I would be happy to chat with you sometime if you’d like? You can reach me at s_ingle@outlook.com

   I struggle with this and many others do as well. Know that you are not alone and that you can overcome this obstacle!

4. AnonymousFebruary 6,2024 at 9:24PM UTC

   OP here. Thank you Stephanie. That's so kind. I will definitely be in touch. ?

5. AnonymousFebruary 5,2024 at 9:57PM UTC

   I have imposter syndrome bad even though I have worked in my field for 15 years.
   It seems like all it takes is one extremely critical manager to bring it out. I am seriously thinking about finding an acting coach and taking acting lessons.

6. Jess WhittekerFebruary 5,2024 at 10:04PM UTC

   I understand that you may be struggling with feelings of self-doubt and imposter syndrome.

   However, I want to remind you that you are not a fraud. It's common to be hard on ourselves when we are new to something, but it takes time to master a new skill. Negative self-talk can be damaging, and it can be challenging to silence that voice in our head.

   To help combat those feelings of self-doubt, I suggest "faking it till you make it." This doesn't mean pretending to know everything or faking your job. Instead, it means "Fake the Confidence", and have the courage to ask questions when you need to and be confident in your abilities. You Earned this!!! You are learning, when you make a mistake own it, and keep it moving!
   I think more highly of people who ask questions even if they fail, than those who fail silently, but that's just me.
   As a parent with a career, I'm sure you're no stranger to being bold in the face of hardship!

   One way to fake your confidence is by using affirmations. You can write them on sticky notes, set reminders on your phone or virtual assistant, or repeat them to yourself throughout the day.
   Here are a few examples to get you started: "I earned my place," "I am stronger than I know," "I am a powerful and intelligent woman," "Today I will showcase my skills," "I will not doubt my ability," "I can do all things," "I am the daughter of a king!"
   I still use these when self-doubt creeps in. You are not alone, and I know this may seem a little silly. However, after saying these things to myself every morning and afternoon, I started believing it, and now living it. Doubt still is no stranger to me, but I try to kick him out whenever I feel him coming!!

7. AnonymousFebruary 6,2024 at 9:26PM UTC

   Thank you. I'm going to start doing this!

8. Jess WhittekerFebruary 7,2024 at 2:09PM UTC

   You're Most welcome, it's really changed my perspective, and new doors have opened!!! Wishing you the best of luck!

9. Rosanna Raffaela PizzaFebruary 5,2024 at 10:14PM UTC

   Same and it holds me back. I have a BS and an MBA but thanks to one recruiter and a bad boss years ago, I rebranded myself as an EA and don't see out roles higher than that. I get asked all the time why am I doing just that or why I have no ambition. I have low self confidence and feel that if I don't know how to do something now, how can I go into a role higher or different and be successful? After that one bad layoff where I was targeted but a good employee till this drunk, power hungry woman became my boss (after my amazing boss left) I was all of a sudden no good and it destroyed me. I keep getting told not to take it personally by people around me, but how can I not? I'm an overthinker and sensitive and like I said, low self esteem'er. it sucks. Being afraid has held me back and now i'm on another lay off and not sure what to do getting older and also disabled.

10. AnonymousFebruary 6,2024 at 9:32PM UTC

    I'm so sorry you're experiencing this. Even more so than imposter syndrome it sounds like there are also added external factors that have almost confirmed your inner doubts. I'm always surprised when people say not to take things personally, most things are personal and saying otherwise does not make it so.

    I hope you feel less alone reading this post. It's not just you and me, either. There's a lot of good advice here that I'm going to try and take, and perhaps something will resonate with you too.

11. Tammy HagerFebruary 5,2024 at 10:17PM UTC

    You are not a fraud! With your extensive knowledge you can adapt to any job if trained properly. So you've got this!!

12. AnonymousFebruary 6,2024 at 9:33PM UTC

    Thank you!

13. Maegan, Nike Sales Rep & Career CoachFebruary 6,2024 at 12:18PM UTC

    You are definitely not the only one. Think about your education as an important part of the equation, and experience you are able to gain is the other piece of the puzzle. Overcoming imposter syndrome is more about believing with your abilities, you CAN learn things you do not yet know, not expecting yourself to know everything.

14. AnonymousFebruary 6,2024 at 9:33PM UTC

    Thank you!

15. Alexis GladstoneFebruary 6,2024 at 1:24PM UTC

    You are not alone. I've had my business for 20 years and can feel like this at times.

    There's already been some great ideas so I won't repeat them. Have you thought about finding a mentor or even two? Maybe one that can do more of the pep talk and be there to remind you that you're good enough and another one that actually does the work you're trained for. They wouldn't do train you, but be there to run the one-off questions by. Having a support network like that can do wonders.

16. AnonymousFebruary 6,2024 at 9:34PM UTC

    That's a great idea. I'm going to look into it.

17. AnonymousFebruary 7,2024 at 12:50AM UTC

    We don't get hired because we can do the job on Day 1. We get hired for our ability to apply what we learned and to learn new things.

18. Taneisha CarterFebruary 7,2024 at 1:32PM UTC

    You are not a fraud. So get it out of your mind. You are educated in your field. There is no amount of education that can teach you everything you need to learn at once because life is learning. You took this leap of faith because you can do all things. If you believe you will achieve it. Your a success story. If no one else believes in you. You believe in you. If there is something that you need to know it's is okay to ask. Ask those who desire to see you succeed. Iron sharpens iron. You are an achiever. Know who and whose you are.

    Love and blessings

19. AnonymousFebruary 7,2024 at 2:29PM UTC

    I finally just had to set it aside. It's my own mind playing tricks on me. I was trained in music (of all things) and got into photography some years ago just for fun. But then I got more and more interested in photography, started taking classes, learning more, and for YEARS just wouldn't start my business (in my case, it's a certain sport, not portraits) because I felt like an imposter. And then one day I just did it. I shot a trial, put the photos up and suddenly I was making all this money and people loved the photos.

    And I just had to put myself out there and push past the "I'm not good enough for this! I'm a total fraud!" Because it wasn't true.

    You're educated in your field. You know what you're doing. Tell your mind to just shut up. It's lying to you!

20. Kimberley Ferretti HammettFebruary 7,2024 at 3:43PM UTC

    A really great exercise is to take time to consciously think through and write about times you successfully solved problems, completed tough projects, overcame hardships, learned something new etc etc. Things you are proud of big or small.. as big as landing your first big client in your own business to as small as tempering your emotional reaction to a difficult colleague.

    There are a few points to this. One is to simply remember all of these times you've been successful. It is especially helpful to remember the times you learned new things or stepped into new territory. This reminds you that you are capable of learning and growing and adapting so even if you are stretching yourself, you know you are capable of things tomorrow you aren't necessarily capable of today.

    Another purpose for this is to notice patterns. As you add stories, what are some common themes you notice? Are you most proud of how you've reapplied your skills or knowledge? Maybe you notice your ability to find the right person to help with a problem. Do you seem to benefit from an organized and focused mind? Whenever you notice one or more themes, own them and put them to use in this new chapter!

    Good luck, you have gotten this far, you got this!

21. Tegan ReesJune 25,2026 at 7:39AM UTC

    <a href="https://www.google.com/">1</a>