Imposter Syndrome At The Workplace

By Cassandra Elizabeth Praba, Marketing Manager

I FEEL LIKE A FRAUD!

Even as I am writing this article, I can hear part of my brain saying, “really I mean why would you think anyone would want to read this?” And no this is not my first article. I have written countless articles in my career yet with every article I write, there is this doubt.

Even now, as the new Marketing Manager of CXL, a reputable HR outsourcing firm, doing a job I have been perfecting for the past 7 years, I kept wondering how I got here and what would happen if my boss and teammates found out that I wasn’t really all that. But then I remember, I was interviewed by the CEO who has faith in my abilities to bring my best to the team and all that I have accomplished from the ground up and I’ve learned how to cope and manage my confidence.

If you are experiencing imposter syndrome, it can be helpful to remember that you are not alone. Around half of us – 51% of women and 47% of men – have felt imposter syndrome at some point, SEEK research reveals.

What is impostor syndrome? Imposter syndrome is a sense of self-doubt related to work accomplishments. You might have feelings of phoniness and think you don’t deserve your job. It is a common experience in the workplace, affecting people at all levels of seniority and across all industries.

Here are some signs of imposter syndrome:

Lack of confidence in your position and achievements.
Feeling like a fraud in what you are doing at work.
You keep telling yourself “I will never be good enough” and “I am just pretending to be good at my job.”
Beating yourself up for mistakes done.
Telling yourself that everyone is better than you are at their job.

Many successful professionals have felt this way at some point in their careers. Here are some tips for dealing with imposter syndrome at the workplace:

Recognize that imposter syndrome is a common experience. Feeling like a fraud does not mean you are one.
Challenge negative self-talk. When you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts challenge them with evidence to the contrary. For example, if you are thinking “I don’t deserve to be in this job,” remind yourself of the skills and experience that got you there.
Seek support. Talk to a trusted colleague or mentor about your feelings. They may be able to offer perspective and support that can help you feel more confident.
Set realistic expectations and goals and recognize that making mistakes and learning from them is a normal part of the process.
Celebrate your successes. Take time to acknowledge your accomplishments and give yourself credit for your hard work.
Focus on learning and growth. Rather than focusing on the result, focus on the process of learning and growing.
Embrace opportunities to learn new skills and take on new challenges, even if they feel outside of your comfort zone.

Companies can play a crucial role in helping employees overcome imposter syndrome by creating a supportive work environment and offering resources for personal and professional development.

At CXL we are big advocates of the one-on-one meetings – these powerful little get-togethers can do wonders in building great relationships within the team which can strengthen bonds & improve communication.