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Imposter Syndrome
82% of people have imposter syndrome.
You're not alone.
Embrace your competence (and feel less like an imposter) with these 9 simple tips:
You're not alone.
Embrace your competence (and feel less like an imposter) with these 9 simple tips:
1) Prepare to be uncomfortable
Doing anything of worth comes with inherent doubts and fears.
If you feel uncomfortable, it means you’re growing.
Imposter syndrome is universal. And it’s not fun.
But if you don’t embrace that feeling, you won’t accomplish great things.
Doing anything of worth comes with inherent doubts and fears.
If you feel uncomfortable, it means you’re growing.
Imposter syndrome is universal. And it’s not fun.
But if you don’t embrace that feeling, you won’t accomplish great things.
2) Align on objective success metrics
Ask your manager what success looks like for you.
Get it in writing and make it objective.
Bad:
-Get up to speed
-Improve reporting
Good:
-Manage 3 campaigns
-Set up a dashboard with XYZ metrics
You uncertainty comes from ambiguity.
Ask your manager what success looks like for you.
Get it in writing and make it objective.
Bad:
-Get up to speed
-Improve reporting
Good:
-Manage 3 campaigns
-Set up a dashboard with XYZ metrics
You uncertainty comes from ambiguity.
3) Consistently ask for feedback
Feedback is essential to your development.
Ask for feedback:
-In real time
-Ahead of time (for specific meetings/presentations)
-Periodically (monthly / quarterly)
It’s an objective tool to combat your doubts.
Feedback is essential to your development.
Ask for feedback:
-In real time
-Ahead of time (for specific meetings/presentations)
-Periodically (monthly / quarterly)
It’s an objective tool to combat your doubts.
4) Spend equal time on negative AND positive feedback
It’s natural to hyper-focus on the negative — those are things you need to “fix”.
But it’s just as (if not more important) to acknowledge and double-down on what you’re doing well.
It’s natural to hyper-focus on the negative — those are things you need to “fix”.
But it’s just as (if not more important) to acknowledge and double-down on what you’re doing well.
5) Take calculated risks
Create a safety net while getting reps at things you need to improve on.
Have your manager sit in on that partner call.
Present to a small team before an upcoming leadership presentation.
When you face bigger fears, muscle memory will drive success.
Create a safety net while getting reps at things you need to improve on.
Have your manager sit in on that partner call.
Present to a small team before an upcoming leadership presentation.
When you face bigger fears, muscle memory will drive success.
6) Set expectations
Managers don’t care if you fail — they expect it.
But they DO care about surprises.
Before a project, ensure they understand what you’re going to nail and what may be out of your comfort zone.
They can either accept the risk or provide extra support.
Managers don’t care if you fail — they expect it.
But they DO care about surprises.
Before a project, ensure they understand what you’re going to nail and what may be out of your comfort zone.
They can either accept the risk or provide extra support.
7) Over-prepare to start
When trying something new or moving into a new role, over-prepare early.
Reputation is hard to earn but easier to maintain.
Once you’ve had some reps, calibrate your preparation down to what’s actually required.
When trying something new or moving into a new role, over-prepare early.
Reputation is hard to earn but easier to maintain.
Once you’ve had some reps, calibrate your preparation down to what’s actually required.
8) Build a knowledge and support network
Prioritize deep relationships with your team early.
Ask their advice and be transparent about where you’re trying to improve.
Most likely: they feel like imposters too.
Prioritize deep relationships with your team early.
Ask their advice and be transparent about where you’re trying to improve.
Most likely: they feel like imposters too.
9) Commit and reflect on progress
Choose to put yourself in situations that stretch yourself consistently.
And record the results.
Every 90 days, look back at your notes (alone and with your manager).
You’ll be amazed. What terrified you before now seems routine.
Choose to put yourself in situations that stretch yourself consistently.
And record the results.
Every 90 days, look back at your notes (alone and with your manager).
You’ll be amazed. What terrified you before now seems routine.
As long as you’re pushing yourself, you’ll never be able to completely get rid of imposter syndrome.
But you can combat the symptoms and prevent paralysis using these tactics.
But you can combat the symptoms and prevent paralysis using these tactics.
TL;DR
To fight imposter syndrome:
1) Prepare to be uncomfortable
2) Use objective success metrics
3) Ask for feedback
4) Use negative AND positive feedback
5) Take calculated risks
6) Set expectations
7) Over-prepare to start
8) Build a network
9) Commit and reflect
To fight imposter syndrome:
1) Prepare to be uncomfortable
2) Use objective success metrics
3) Ask for feedback
4) Use negative AND positive feedback
5) Take calculated risks
6) Set expectations
7) Over-prepare to start
8) Build a network
9) Commit and reflect
If you enjoyed this thread:
1) Share the tweet below
2) Follow @BenGrant49 for more threads on how to succeed in business and digital marketing
1) Share the tweet below
2) Follow @BenGrant49 for more threads on how to succeed in business and digital marketing
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