Five Ways to Conquer Imposter Syndrome at Work

“Fake it ‘til you make it” … we’ve all heard this expression. Whether it’s presenting a new concept, leading a cross-agency team, stepping into a new role, or even just showing the ropes to a new team member, who among us can say we haven’t felt like a fraud at one time or another? If you’re using a fake-it approach at work, you’re probably also experiencing a fair amount of anxiety, and you’re probably not alone — imposter syndrome can happen to anyone, but there are things you can do to take control.

A Little Background
If you haven’t heard of it before, the concept of imposter syndrome was developed in the 1970s and was used to describe successful people who couldn’t internalize and accept their own success — and who feared that others would someday see through their perceived fraud and call them out. For a long time, it was believed that imposter syndrome only affected women, but that’s not the case. Some research suggests that men experience it more acutely than women, and that people from marginalized groups battle it even more. No matter who you are or what your job title is, imposter syndrome can trip you up, so let’s look at what can help stop this anxiety-producing, productivity-killing mindset in its tracks.

Talk to Someone
The pandemic has put mental health and well-being in the spotlight more than ever before. It may have been taboo in the past to talk about what you’re feeling and thinking, but not anymore. Getting feedback from a trusted and supportive colleague can make a big difference in how we see ourselves. Find someone you can open up to, and you’ll likely discover that they’ve had similar feelings of uncertainty at one time or another. They’ll also probably remind you of all the things you do know and are skilled at.

Recognize and Share Your Own Expertise
Sharing your expertise is one quick way to be reminded of just how much you know. And bonus: Mentoring someone else can give you an opportunity to shine and gain confidence in a lower-pressure scenario — your work won’t be critiqued, so you’ll likely feel less anxious about your role and abilities. There’s also the good feeling you’ll get from helping out a colleague.

Remember Your Strengths
We are a lot smarter, and a lot more creative and resourceful, than we often give ourselves credit for. Sit down and make a list of the things you’re good at, even outside of work — maybe it’s juggling multiple things at once or big-picture thinking or empathetic listening. Still having trouble? Revisit your resume — you are where you are because of your experience and accomplishments. And once you’ve started your strengths list, keep adding to it as new successes occur; it will be there for you when you need it.

Visualize Success
Back when the tv show The Walking Dead was in its infancy, the CDC put out a post about having a “zombie plan.” At the time, it was a creative way to get the public’s attention and point out the importance of planning for success — or in this case, survival. Emergency preparedness is critical, especially these days, but this same idea can be applied to work. New York Times editor and author Jessica Bennett, writer of Feminist Fight Club, offers this advice that lines up with the CDC’s: “Visualize precisely how you’ll navigate the situation — successfully — before it happens.” Walk yourself through the steps needed to accomplish a task you’re nervous about, more than once if you need to, and imagine crushing it. It may sound silly, but everyone from athletes to actors and Army vets swears by this method.

Realize No One Is Perfect
Perfect is the enemy of good, as they say, so take perfection off the table — it slows you down, makes you miss deadlines, and may affect the work of your teammates. Do a task as well as you can; check in regularly with your boss or peers to make sure you’re meeting expectations; and then make time to acknowledge the fruits of your labor — celebrate even your small successes! And don’t forget: It’s okay not to be excellent at everything. That’s what teams are for!

Many people experience imposter syndrome at some point in their professional lives. The key to kicking that feeling is to remember that how you see yourself may not match reality, and that you have the power to overcome it with just a little bit of effort and a healthy dose of constructive self-reflection. Now, go get ‘em!