Imposter Syndrome is Holding You Back: How To Recognize and Beat It

If there’s one thing I know, I’m an excellent writer. I tell people I create word magic—and I fully believe this. I know I’m good with words.

So why was I struggling to write a simple LinkedIn post? Why was I overthinking and procrastinating writing? Two words: imposter syndrome. 

If you’d told me 6 months ago that I, Vicki, aged 52 with 20 years of writing experience, had imposter syndrome, I would have laughed at you.

The tricky thing about imposter syndrome is you don’t realise you have it until you overcome it.

And the sneaky thing about imposter syndrome is how many of us actually have it. 

The awful thing about imposter syndrome is that it’s only hurting you. It’s holding you back. It’s stopping you from being your best self. 

Imposter syndrome is everywhere in our lives, and we need to train ourselves to overcome it. 

“If you’ve ever felt like a fraud, like you’re not qualified or don’t belong, you’re not alone. Imposter syndrome is a common experience, affecting people from all walks of life. 

According to Dr. Adam Grant, author of Hidden Potential.

So, let’s celebrate the fact that we’re in good company. Elvis Presley, an iconic figure, struggled with imposter syndrome.  

The funny thing is most of the people around you are dealing with exactly the same thing,” says Sheri Jay, Certified Performance & Mindset Coach. (Disclosure, Sheri is my life coach.)

What is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where you doubt your abilities, despite evidence that you do have the skills, knowledge, and experience. This leads to persistent feelings of inadequacy and the fear of being exposed as a fraud in your personal or professional life.

Maybe these scenarios sound familiar:

• Difficulty accepting praise: you downplay compliments, achievements, and recognition for your work. Instead, you attribute your success to luck or other factors rather than your own SEO skills and expertise.
  
• Reluctance to speak up: you hold back in meetings, on Slack, or on social media because you’re worried people will think you’re inexperienced or not qualified to contribute.
  
• Procrastination: you delay working on important projects or even clicking Send on an email, which inadvertently sets you up for failure and feelings of self-doubt.
  
• Comparison trap: you compare yourself to your colleagues and complete strangers who you see posting on LinkedIn. You’re convinced that everyone else is more competent and has “it all figured out” while you’re floundering.
  
• Overworking and perfectionism: you work long hours, insist on double- and triple-checking your work, and want everything you do to be perfect. You’re worried that one mistake will expose you as incompetent or not good enough.
  

The brutal aspect of these behaviours is that they can be self-perpetuating, reinforcing your feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy and ultimately hurting your personal and professional life. 

Here’s a little secret: I experienced all of these signs of imposter syndrome throughout my personal and professional life. 

I’m a very accomplished athlete, competing at the 2003 World ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships and the 2010 World Cyclocross Championships. Two national teams in two different sports – this is a big deal. But I still struggle with imposter syndrome as an athlete. 

I recently joined a swim club, and whenever my coach told me I was doing well or encouraged me, I’d downplay her compliments and praise. And then, one day, my coach spelt it out for me, “You are your own worst enemy. I’m tired of the negativity.” 

This was big. But what was even more life-changing for me was my friend who heard this, saying to me “I find it hard when you’re so negative about yourself. It makes me feel uncomfortable.”

I spent a lot of time thinking about what these two people said. And while I haven’t pushed my imposter syndrome in the pool completely away, I do work hard at encouraging myself and giving myself a pat on the back. 

How to Recognize Your Imposter Syndrome

I have a list of people on my desk. These people are doing it. They created their own companies and are backing themselves. They do not hold back from telling people who they are, what they do, and why they are so good at it.

Whenever I waiver a bit in a meeting or in answering questions on Slack about SEO and content, I turn to my list. I see these names, and I think, “If they can do it – so can I.” After all, I have never questioned or doubted their expertise and knowledge. 

Create your own list of people, then ask yourself these questions to help recognize imposter syndrome and pinpoint how it’s preventing you from being your best self:

1. Do I attribute my success to luck?
2. Are my standards for myself too high? How do I treat myself when I don’t live up to my own expectations?
3. Do I struggle with accepting compliments and praise for my achievements?
4. When I do receive a compliment, how do I respond? Do I dismiss the recognition or feel like I don’t deserve it?
5. Does it feel like everyone else has figured it all out, and I’m just trying to keep up?
6. Do I procrastinate or overthink projects and decisions that I know are within my skill set and expertise?
7. How often do I speak up in meetings or contribute new ideas? Am I holding back because I’m afraid of making a mistake or being judged?

These aren’t easy questions to answer, but they can help you recognize your imposter syndrome.

7 Strategies to Help You Overcome Your Imposter Syndrome

“While it’s common to experience imposter syndrome, it’s important to remember that it doesn’t define us. 

Overcoming it requires courage and a willingness to face our fears. I like to remind people that courage is fear walking,” Sheri Jay, Certified Performance & Mindset Coach.

These tips on overcoming imposter syndrome have brought me to where I am right now—writing this blog about imposter syndrome. They do work, but like anything, it takes time. Remember there is no such thing as an overnight success. 

1. Recognize and Accept It: The first step to overcoming imposter syndrome is to acknowledge it. Once you recognize it, you can start to challenge the negative thoughts and beliefs that fuel it.
   
2. Focus on Impact: Shift your focus from your own self-worth to the impact you want to make on others. By considering how your work can benefit others, you can gain a sense of purpose and motivation.
   
3. Track Your Success: Keep track of everything you’re doing. Every time I post a blog and share it on LinkedIn, I note it in my calendar. This way I can always look back and see my successes.
   
4. Everyone Starts at the Same Place: Don’t get intimidated or discouraged by people who seem to have it all figured out. They had doubts (and likely still do). The more you post, speak up, back yourself, or recognize your accomplishments, the easier it gets.
   
5. Trust Yourself: You were hired for a reason – do not ever forget this. You are an important part of your team and people value your SEO expertise and opinions. Speak up in your team meetings, respond to questions in Slack channels, publish your blogs, and tell people about them.
   
6. Talk It Out: Working with a life or business coach can help you develop tools and strategies to stop imposter syndrome from taking over. These people can help you build self-awareness and make it easier for you to recognize negative thought patterns.
   
7. Embrace Imperfection: Perfectionism often goes hand-in-hand with imposter syndrome. By accepting that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process, you can reduce self-doubt and increase your confidence.

Remember to give yourself grace. It’s not easy to change and work on yourself. You are taking big steps by reading this blog and reflecting on your behaviours. 

Nothing happens overnight. And nothing happens by accident. 

Give yourself time and space to change your thinking and habits. Recognize when you’re overcoming imposter syndrome and backing yourself. 

You are not alone – everyone deals with this. The good news is you’re ready to move forward and be your best self.