The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
Psychologist shares her best tips on how to calm imposter syndrome
From thinking ‘I’m a fraud’ to ‘fake it till you make it’, many of us have experienced imposter syndrome in our lifetime.
With this in mind, Solopress have worked with Chantal Gautier, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at The University of Westminster, to offer tips for individuals dealing with imposter syndrome and to offer advice to businesses on how to help support employees in overcoming self-doubt.
How to calm imposter syndrome if you’re struggling to ease symptoms
Recognise that you’re experiencing Imposter Syndrome – “This will help you to identify negative thinking traps. Once you realise that Imposter Syndrome has caused you to become stuck in an unhelpful cycle of thoughts, you can use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques to help challenge those negative thoughts and turn your mood around.”
Learn to ask for what you need – “Asking for support is actually a sign of strength. Struggling in silence can be very lonely in the workplace. Break the silence and seek out support as soon as you can to avoid a build-up of work and worry.”
Be kind and compassionate to yourself – “Remind yourself of successes and wins. Keep a list of your achievements and nice things and compliments people have said about you and your work – dig it out when Imposter Syndrome sets in.”
Focus on self-validation versus external validation – “When praise from others isn’t forthcoming, it can be time to look inside for some encouragement. Set realistic goals that challenge you and reward yourself for completing them.”
Reframe negative self-talk – “No one’s perfect, and mistakes do not equal failure. Try to regard learning experiences as growth, rather than a shortfall or skill deficit. This will help to validate feelings of self-worth.”
