Founder, career coach, and professional resume writer behind CaffeinatedKyle.com. My goal is simple: to help people find jobs they LOVE.
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Imposter syndrome is one of the most significant roadblocks facing high-achieving leaders. Unnecessary feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy and fraud are major barriers preventing managers and executives from achieving success in their job searches, their careers and their lives.
How do you boost your self-esteem? What does it take to raise your confidence? How do you achieve lasting faith in yourself and your abilities?
Here are four proven methods I recommend to my career coaching clients to combat imposter syndrome and improve their confidence at work:
1. Reflect on your career accomplishments.
What story are you telling yourself? How does this story build your self-confidence? Imposter syndrome thrives on negative self-talk. Consistent, positive self-reflection is a powerful tool to stop imposter syndrome and build confidence.
Carve out time to regularly review and reflect on the successes you have already achieved thus far in your career and life. Keeping a physical or digital "brag file" can help facilitate this reflective process. Collect copies of your work projects, career awards and honors, performance evaluations, letters of recommendation and LinkedIn profile recommendations for when you need a confidence boost.
2. Document your career successes.
While we are on the topic of career accomplishments, begin documenting your career accomplishments. Consider keeping an accomplishment journal. Write down an accomplishment at the end of each workday. With five days in the week and 52 weeks in the year, you will have 210 accomplishments in a single year.
The exercise of writing down your accomplishments each day is effective for two reasons. First, you are helping keep imposter syndrome at bay by intentionally carving out time to reflect on your successes. Second, you are creating written proof of your fabulousness that you can later revisit when imposter syndrome creeps in.
3. Seek outside help.
You do not have to navigate feelings of fraud and self-doubt alone. Positive affirmations can be helpful as you work to overcome feelings of fraud and work to boost your self-esteem. Turn to your support system when you feel like a fraud at work.
Text a minimum of three friends, colleagues and supervisors and ask some version of “What makes me fabulous?” Reflect on what they say about you, your skills and the unique value you bring to your work. Screenshot their responses, then review them when feelings of inadequacy pop up.
4. Befriend imposter syndrome.
While the last three tips focused on overcoming imposter syndrome, this last one is different. Ask yourself if you truly wish to get rid of imposter syndrome. Ask yourself what values exists in experiencing imposter syndrome.
You may wish to reframe imposter syndrome. Perhaps imposter syndrome is a sign that you are growing and putting yourself in situations that challenge you. Maybe imposter syndrome is a signal that you are stretching yourself in your work and career. Try befriending imposter syndrome and see what happens.
Remember: Tackling imposter syndrome takes time. Be patient as you grow your self-esteem and career confidence. You’ve got this!
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