What if they figure out I’m not that great? Imposter Syndrome

According to Merriam-Webster imposter syndrome involves "persistent doubt concerning one's abilities or accomplishments accompanied by the fear of being exposed as a fraud despite evidence of one's ongoing success.” First described by psychologists in the 1970s, impostor syndrome occurs when people are unable to internalize and accept their success. Impostor syndrome is not an official diagnosis listed in the DSM, but it is recognized by psychologists as a debilitating thought pattern that can impact a person’s mental health and quality of life.

Best Possible Outcome coaching works well for people who suffer from imposter syndrome because the approach is a mindset shift that encourages people to focus on their real accomplishments and goals, rather than their overwhelming fears and self-doubts. Some techniques that can help reduce imposter syndrome include:

1. SAVORING

People who experience imposter syndrome quickly dismiss their achievements. They often attribute their accomplishments to luck rather than to ability, and fear that others will eventually unmask them as a fraud. Savoring is a practice of holding on to happy moments or successes. For example, instead of thinking “I got the job. Now what?” hold onto the moment you got the news. How did it feel when someone called to welcome you to the company? What things about you did they value that led to the job offer? Take a few minutes to write down all the wonderful feelings and positive feedback you got from the job offer. Then call a friend or family member and tell them all about the job offer. Tell them how excited you are and about the new role and describe the reasons the company thinks you are the perfect person for the job. This is not the time to be humble. Your friend/family member will be as excited as you are and it will be fun to share the news with them.

If you’d like some help practicing savoring, schedule a coaching session with me.

2. IDENTIFYING STRENGHTHS

People who experience imposter syndrome have lots of evidence of their accomplishments, but they have trouble taking credit for their own success. One way to work this is to switch from a backward-facing perspective to a forward-facing perspective. When someone tries to convince you that you are worthy by referring to your past achievements, you might try to counter them with reasons why the achievements were a fluke or not a reflection of who you truly are. Focusing on strengths that are internal and how to use those strengths in the future can reduce the emphasis on past achievements. The VIA survey created by Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman can help you identify your top character strengths. Understanding that you possess these characteristics and brainstorming ways you can use them to improve your life and the lives of others will increase feelings of optimism and reduce the anxiety of being unmasked as a fraud.

If you’d like some help identifying your strengths and learning to use them, schedule a coaching session with me.

3. WORKING THROUGH POSSIBLE OUTCOMES

People who experience imposter syndrome often experience anxiety or depression. Their mind goes immediately to the worst possible outcome. Despite evidence of past success, they worry that the future outcome will be a disaster. They are always waiting for the moment that bad consequences follow from their past success. It takes practice to work on seeing ALL of the possible outcomes. For example, what happens if you find out that you are not very good at the job you were hired for, even though the company thought you would be a perfect fit? Well, one outcome might be that you are fired. Another might be that you are humiliated. But if that is all you can imagine then you are prematurely limiting your outcomes. Another possibility is that your boss moves you to a position that is a better fit. Or you may learn new skills that make you perfect for the new role. If you do get fired, you can find another job. If you are embarrassed, that experience will be fleeting. That feeling of humiliation is based on your perspective and that can be changed. Any time you find yourself worrying about one specific outcome, it is important to consider all possible outcomes and follow the chain of actions and consequences until you get to the Best Possible Outcome.

If you’d like some help working through possible outcomes and identifying your best possible outcome, schedule a coaching session with me.