Do you regularly feel anxious or nervous at work? Has it gotten worse since being given a promotion or as you’ve worked your way up through the ranks? If so, imposter syndrome may be to blame.
As discussed in my previous blog, imposter syndrome symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Feeling a fraud
- Lack of self-confidence
Imposter syndrome is a matter of mindset, and whilst you may always be prone to these negative feelings you can work to counteract this and employ more positive schemas and thought patterns.
Here are my top tips to dealing with imposter syndrome in the workplace
Identification
To be able to employ more positive thought patterns you first need to identify the cause of your negative thoughts. Have you recently been given a promotion, or been given more responsibility? Is there a new dynamic in the office that makes you uncomfortable?
Confide
Talking is a great way to articulate and work through a problem, whether that’s with someone at work or with a friend. Finding someone that will hold you accountable to how you feel, whether they are positive or negative feelings. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to someone face-to-face, picture talking to a friend and imagine what they might say if you were to ask what your accomplishments or skills were.
Map it out
Make a list of the things that you are good at and your achievements, refer to it when you feel yourself have a wobble.
Make a second list of things that you want to achieve or skills that you’d like to learn or build on. Each time you accomplish something check it off your list and add it to your first. Checking off a to do list is a great way to remind yourself that you are moving in the right direction and will also get you to revisit your list of achievements to date.
Look for a mentor or coach
A mentor or coach can not only help you identify negative thought patterns, but also help you identify more positive ways of thinking. Mentoring is a great way of setting new targets and being held accountable for the actions that you plan on taking.
Imposter syndrome doesn’t need to take over your work or stop you achieving your goals. If you’d like to find out how my 60 Minute Transformation Sessions can help visit the website or contact me here.