There has been a lot of talk about impostor syndrome lately. Many professionals, even those with solid experience, struggle with impostor syndrome every day. Organisational psychologist, entrepreneur and influencer Jaakko Sahimaa explains how to get rid of impostor syndrome!
Impostor syndrome, which has come to the fore in recent years, is a term familiar to many in the media and is always relevant. A person with impostor syndrome goes through their day anxious that they can't really do anything and will soon be caught out by their own incompetence. Distressing, isn't it?
"With impostor syndrome, a competent person wrongly thinks they don't have the skills required by their job. It's a distressing feeling, even though it's usually a delusion. The feeling is more common than we think, and even extremely successful people may suffer from it," Sahimaa describes.
So, how do you get rid of the negative thoughts in your head and take control of them? Here are four tips to get you to break the debilitating cycle of impostor syndrome.
Impostor syndrome fuels feelings of inadequacy – get rid of excessive conscientiousness
The root cause of impostor syndrome is the feeling of inadequacy. You can't get rid of the feeling of inadequacy by working even more Change must take place through your own thoughts and attitudes. Stop and think about why you think you don't know anything or are worse than others. You can and should question your own thinking models.
"It's also important to understand what is good enough. You don't always have to be perfect at everything. Think about what is important to you and where you want to succeed," Sahimaa says.
Especially in expert work, work involves constant change and tolerance of uncertainty. You can't get everything done, no matter how much you would like to. This feeds the feeling of inadequacy and the cycle is complete.
"Working life is about constantly learning new things and challenging yourself. It includes going uphill and downhill," Sahimaa points out.
Impostor syndrome increases perspective bias – take a look around
One of the key distortions of impostor syndrome is that you don't really know what you are doing and you'll soon be caught out. At the same time, a person suffering from impostor syndrome thinks that others can do much more.
"Everyone else is probably just as clueless. We tend to see only the surface layer, such as the confidence and successes of others, and not the fact that everyone is struggling with their own challenges and insecurities," Sahimaa says.
According to Sahimaa, success is above all about self-confidence and self-esteem.
"I recommend Pippi Longstocking’s attitude and motto for everyone to use: What I haven't tried yet, I'm sure I can do," Sahimaa says and laughs.
Impostor syndrome distorts your thinking – ask for feedback from others
If you recognise the traits of impostor syndrome in yourself, you probably have a false image of yourself. Our internal speech is often quite loud: we are our own worst critics. If your internal speech reinforces your uncertainty and impostor syndrome, you should ask others for their opinion.
"Gather insights about yourself from colleagues, your partner or even friends. They can tell you objectively how skilled and competent you are. Getting feedback is important, as we often only believe something when told by someone else," Sahimaa points out.
You can also mitigate impostor syndrome yourself. Write down concrete things you have done, achieved and succeeded in. This will give you a better idea of how much you have already achieved!
"People are blind to themselves. In information work, this is emphasised as the work is abstract and leaves no tangible trace," Sahimaa says.
Impostor syndrome increases comparison – focus on your own development
Positive feedback creates faith in one’s own competence. It's also true that you can never be the best and most knowledgeable person in the world – and that's not the point. We all have our personal strengths and areas of expertise.
"People compare themselves with others and like to set their own values and goals in relation to other people. Instead of stopping the comparison, think about what you are comparing to and what your standards are. Instead of focusing on other people's performances, could you think about your own development and reflect on what you are doing through yourself?" Sahimaa asks.
That's why it's worth thinking about what you can do, where you have developed and what skills you have acquired along the way. This will help you understand how skilled you really are.
"Think about your own point of comparison. Could you see, for example, your own great development curve or the skills you have accumulated over the years? Remember that you have potential because you have got to where you are now."