From self-doubt to self-belief: Strategies to overcome Imposter Syndrome
Ever felt like a fraud, even when in reality you’ve got this? Hands up if you’ve ever experienced Imposter Syndrome!
At the recent Bath Festival, Dr. Jessamy Hibberd, the brilliant mind behind The Imposter Cure, asked a packed room if they’d ever felt this way. Spoiler alert: nearly everyone raised their hands! Turns out, about 70% of people have experienced Imposter Syndrome at some point. You're definitely not alone!
A Quick History Lesson on Imposter Syndrome
Imposter Syndrome was first identified by researchers in 1978 when they discovered that many high-achieving women, including those in academia, felt like frauds even though they were more than qualified. These women were fearful of being found out and believed that their success and accomplishments were based on external factors like luck or other people’s mistakes, rather than their abilities. The study concluded that Imposter Syndrome was widespread among high-achieving women and this led to wider recognition of the term. The concept would be expanded to apply to men — 50% of whom feel it too — as well as people from different backgrounds and professions.
So, What Is Imposter Syndrome?
In short, it’s the sneaky belief that we’re not worthy of our achievements. Even when we’re outwardly successful, we think we’re not good enough. Dr. Hibberd calls these “faulty beliefs.” Many of us are busy doubting ourselves. When we approach life from a place of anxiety — from fearing we’ll get found out — that can make it impossible to give ourselves the space to learn, grow, and experiment. Sound familiar?
We also think everyone else has it all together. We see others’ shiny success stories and hold ourselves to impossible standards, trying to be the best version of ourselves. It’s exhausting!
Meet the 5 Imposter Types—Which One Are You?
The Perfectionist: Believes there’s a right and wrong way to do everything.
The Soloist: Is hesitant to ask for help.
The Natural Genius: Thinks they need to get it right on the first try.
The Expert: Feels they need to know everything before starting.
The Superwoman/man: Strives to be perfect in all areas.
These can lead us down two not-so-fun paths: Avoidance (hello, procrastination!) and Overwork (burnout, anyone?). Which one’s your go-to?
Finding Your Grounding in Self-Belief
Dr. Hibberd suggests some impactful strategies to combat Imposter Syndrome:
Self-Compassion: Swap self-criticism for self-awareness. Talk to yourself like you would to a friend.
Challenge Your Beliefs: Keep a record of your daily successes and strengths. This helps shift how you see yourself.
Be Aware of Biases: We all have a 'negativity bias' (always on the lookout for threats) and a 'confirmation bias' (seeking proof of what we believe).
The Antidote in The Imposter Cure
In her book, Dr. Hibberd delves deep into practical, science-backed strategies to help you reframe your thoughts and silence your inner critic. Here are some gems from the book:
Visualization Techniques: Picture your success and visualize overcoming challenges.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Exercises: Change negative thought patterns with simple yet effective CBT practices.
Daily Affirmations: Use positive affirmations to reinforce your worth and capabilities.
Sharing Is Caring
Sitting with a group of fellow doubters at the Guildhall, I realized the magic of saying, “That’s me too.” It’s a reminder that we’re not alone. We’re all in this together, and we’re all more ‘normal’ than we think. Let’s take a deep breath and let go of that weight because many of us are exhausted from carrying it around with us.
Ready to Move Beyond Imposter Syndrome?
Check out Dr. Hibberd’s The Imposter Cure. Or, let’s have a chat. Book a free 20-minute call to see how a 1:1 coaching session with one of our Certified Coaches can help you navigate and conquer Imposter Syndrome.
