Imposter syndrome and how to overcome it

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Understanding the root causes of your imposter syndrome and what archetype it embodies is the first step in overcoming it.

Imposter syndrome is something I have tackled while leading technology teams and creating engineering hubs over the years. Unfortunately, the buck doesn’t stop there with imposterism, as it can often bleed into work, home, school, and relationships.

We all have fears, and it’s natural to ask yourself, “Can I do this?” or “What if I fail?” Imposter syndrome is normal, and it can be overcome. Using tactics that support your career journey and give you confidence to believe in the power of you can help.

What is imposter syndrome, and who can it impact?

Imposter syndrome is an experience of believing that you are not as competent as others perceive you to be. It can make you feel like you do not belong.

Imposter syndrome does not discriminate. No matter your skill set, work background, social skills, or degree of expertise, those who feel this can experience self-doubt.

Thought patterns a person with imposter syndrome may have:

1. Being extremely worried over small mistakes 
2. Being sensitive to constructive criticism 
3. Being worried people will eventually find out that they are not skilled at what they do
4. Downplaying their expertise even when they are more skilled than others

The 5 types of imposter syndrome

Imposter syndrome has many symptoms, and one person can feel affected by one, if not all, of these categories at once. 

1. Perfectionist  – This person feels that their work can always be better, so they push themselves hard to attain their often excessively high goals. For instance, you could feel your engineering code is never quite good enough, and you’re always setting excessively high benchmarks.
2. Superhero – This category is ruled by a feeling of inadequacy, resulting in someone who pushes themselves as hard as possible to “measure up.” This is something I wrestled with when I first started out in the technology industry, always thinking I needed to work every hour under the sun to be seen as worthwhile against my counterparts.
3. Expert – Experts believe that they will never know enough, fearing being exposed as a fraud for this belief. They are always trying to learn more, undervaluing their own current expertise in the process. 
4. The natural genius – This archetype believes they simply must be a natural genius at everything. They look to get things right on the first try, often rating themselves on how “easy” they found the task. They set lofty goals – much like a perfectionist – and then feel crushed when they fail on the first try. For instance, teams that are used to success may find it difficult to correct client project hiccups. 
5. Soloist – A soloist believes that asking for help will reveal them to be a phony. They tend to be very individualistic, preferring to work alone. As a graduate in a new role, you want to hit the ground running, and it’s easy to be reluctant to ask questions.

Personally, I know that I lean toward the perfectionist camp. In the past, I have found myself working on projects for weeks to reach “perfection,” only to find out that the output didn’t meet the needs or requirements outlined in the brief. With time, I have found that faster feedback loops are far more useful.

Faster feedback means breaking larger pieces of work into smaller chunks so that you can correct problems quickly. This provides you with a higher chance of meeting the end goal. I have also had periods in my life where I have fallen into the “expert” camp. I once felt that that was what was required of me as a leader. In truth, I was wrong. I found that a team is a sum of its parts rather than the knowledge of one person. 

How can you start to overcome imposter syndrome?

1. Try to change your viewpoint – Feeling imposter syndrome does not mean that you are a failure or weak. It is actually an opportunity to get better. When I feel self-doubt, I try to reframe the situation. If that still fails, I lean into self-care, and I focus on things that have gone well in the past few months.
   
2. Get help to manage those negative feelings – Speak to someone who you trust or consider speaking to a professional. It’s easy to ignore your feelings as irrelevant, but they do matter. A problem shared is a problem halved. I have spoken to friends to support me in those times of need.
   
3. Do acknowledge what you have achieved – Celebrate wins and keep a log of all the great things you have achieved. I love to write down my successes in my favorite notepad and then revisit them daily.
   
4. Push self-compassion – Mindfulness can help you to move in a different direction. It’s important to see that accomplishments are not tied to your value. Be kind to yourself by reflecting and seeing that no two people are on the same journey!
   
5. Get a mentor – Sharing your thoughts and experience with another person will help equip you with tools to deal with imposter syndrome. A mentor is great; they can help you to see things in a different way. You may have a mentoring scheme at your work, though you can also reach out on mentoring platforms online to get support.

Final thoughts

Imposter syndrome affects individuals across various fields, leading to feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy despite evidenced achievements.

Acknowledging these feelings is the first step toward overcoming them; it’s crucial to remember that many successful individuals experience similar sensations. By fostering supportive environments, we can help to dispel the notion of being an “imposter.”

Ultimately, understanding and addressing imposter syndrome is essential for both personal growth and professional success.

Self-doubt makes you human. And I’ve found that these doubts can sometimes have good side effects, pushing me to become a better version of myself. 

Tune into the PriorityZero podcast to hear Melissa DePuydt speak on her experiences with imposter syndrome.