Are you constantly giving your best and flying with colors in your career, yet you feel that you do not deserve success? Do you experience a demon that constantly tells you that you are a failure and you do not belong here? No worries! you are not alone. Many people go through such lingering emotions or states and it is called Imposter Syndrome.
What is Imposter Syndrome?
In simple words, it is the psychological process or sense that speaks to you quite pessimistically. It tells you that you are not worthy of your job. Moreover, It does not feel contended in making you feel low. Therefore, it poisons your mind constantly by telling you that you are a counterfeit wearing a facade (of being good at your work).
Recognizing Imposter Syndrome:
Besides feeling like that you do not deserve this job. You can be a victim of this syndrome if you constantly suffer from:
- Low confidence at work
- Major panic attacks over small mistakes
- Fear of letting your team down
- Long-lasting exhaustion from working too much
- Overlooking yourself in the world of admirers
- Hesitant to seek support and mentorship
- Unable to embrace admiration
- Trying to be an expert in all things
Are there any types of Imposter Syndrome?
The co-founder of Imposter Syndrome Institute, Dr. Valerie Young says that there can be 05 types of this syndrome.
The Perfectionist:
This person tries to achieve the highest standards that are normally considered impossible to achieve. The victim tries to get flawless and perfect in his tasks to avoid phoniness in the eyes of his coworkers. This syndrome leads to more exhaustion, more anxiety, and less productivity. Also, the victim obsesses over tiny things to craft an ideal end result.
The Expert:
As the name indicates, they think that they are the experts and know everything. People (like doctors or lawyers,) who have advanced degrees become its prey. They perceive that they are the best and know everything regarding their subject just because they have spent a lot of years in training and learning.
Then, this raises the question: When do they feel insufficient?
They always feel that they are insufficient and need a lot of help when it comes to tackling a particular situation.
The Natural Genius:
The people suffering from this imposter syndrome think that their success owes to their natural talent and God-given (innate) intelligence. They usually achieve success with little or no effort, therefore, they establish high standards of success with little effort.
When hit by real competitive circumstances, they not only feel insufficient but also struggle to shape themselves according to the expectations of the competitive environment. If they do not have success on their first attempt, they take extra time to master that skill. In a nutshell, they are followers of enjoying success on the first try. Otherwise, they start to see themselves as a fraud.
The Soloist:
They try to climb each stair of success on their own. They neither want to gain help nor consider it a positive trait. In addition to that, they find help synonymous with weakness. They live under the impression that seeking help can raise questions about their credibility and expertise. The soloists prefer independence and isolation over social norms or teamwork.
The Superperson:
To avoid the label of fraud, they try to achieve the highest level of achievement by working too hard. Unlike perfectionists who live to flourish day by day, this imposter type struggles to work more and more each day. They strive to justify their accomplishments by working really hard and then get crushed under a mountain of high pressure regarding work and success.
The cherry on top is that the superpersons feel guilty during break time and do not tackle constructive criticism well. One word that can be used to define them is, workaholics.
How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome in Your Career?
It is quite a hectic task to overcome the Imposter Syndrome but taking baby steps proves to be great allies. The first step involves getting in touch with you. It involves asking yourself questions like:
- Do you believe that you are worthy of this love/admiration?
- Am I best just because others believe so?
- Are my beliefs (regarding myself) realistic?
The next baby steps require time to get rid of this imposter.
Always speak out your heart to your close ones. Unsaid beliefs are fostered when you keep them locked in your heart.
Not only observe your co-workers but also learn from them. They make errors, learn from them, and move on. Fight your feelings with facts and logic until they fade away.
Do not forget to evaluate your set of skills and release all the negative sentiments, either on paper or by lending an ear.
Value yourself and celebrate each win with confidence. Avoid comparison with others at all costs for we humans have the skill to scan out a blessing in others that we do not have.
Finding a mentor can help you with gaining a vision of healthy success with a healthy mind.
Final Remarks:
Everyone dives in the currents of self-doubt at some point. But, the feeling should not linger for a long time. It would be best if you fight Imposter Syndrome with logic by keeping in mind that humans make errors.
It does take a lot of time but once you start to take baby steps, the path becomes less painful and less bumpy.
