How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome at Work
What is Impostor Syndrome? Impostor syndrome describes the feeling that you are an impostor despite evidence to the contrary. For example, you may believe that you’re inadequate or a fraud, and tend to negatively compare yourself to others whom you perceive to be smarter and more successful. Impostor syndrome can happen in many areas of life, but is especially distressing and prevalent in the workplace. Those who experience impostor syndrome at work report having thoughts such as: “I’m just not as smart or accomplished as everyone else. They were foolish to hire me.” “How long is this going to last before people realize I don’t know what I’m doing?” “Maybe if I just take on more hours, more projects, more training, etc., I will start to feel better.” Many who struggle with impostor syndrome have a tendency to focus on their perceived flaws or limitations instead of assets and accomplishments. They often have perfectionist tendencies (setting very high expectations with little-to-...