Worksheet – Part 1

1. See the reality

Many people who have Impostor Syndrome distort the facts about their situation. For example, when they view their colleagues, they often feel that they know so little in comparison to them.

But the reality is that everyone knows something, and that people’s capacities for knowledge are very similar. Of course, there will be people who know more about some things than we do, but we know things that others don’t. That’s why teams are formed, so that we openly collaborate in a way that allows our shared knowledge to emerge.

Ask yourself:

– How much do I distort the truth and think that everyone else knows so much more than me?

– What must I do so that I have a realistic opinion of how my skills compare to those of my colleagues?

2. Kill the ‘Perfectionist’ inside

In a Belgian study made in 2014, researchers found people with impostor syndrome tend to need validation from others. They were shown as too sensitive to criticism and constantly worried about less-than-perfect results. Of course, getting things ‘right’ is a noble aim, but a tendency to ‘over-perfection’ can be very destructive, resulting in work taking far too long to deliver or constantly being amended once it is in the ‘public domain’.

Think about whether your work is ’fit for purpose’ and, instead of withdrawing and getting everything ‘just so’, why not show your ‘work in progress’ to your manager to make sure you’re on the right track.

Ask yourself:

– How often does my obsession with perfectionism take me over?

– What one action can I take to curb my obsession with perfectionism?

3. Be open about how you feel

If we know that at least 70% of people also have feelings of Impostor Syndrome, then there is a large chance that the people we work with are included in that number.

Open up to your manager and colleagues about how you sometimes feel. You’ll be astounded how much others have shared the same feelings of Impostorism as you.

Ask yourself:

– How often have I spoken of my struggle with Impostor Syndrome to others?

– Who can I turn to – in confidence – who I can share my feelings of Imposterism with?

4. Be rational with yourself

When you coolly look at your career to date, on how many occasions has your work been heavily criticised by others? If there have been very few occasions, what does that tell you about your abilities?

According to research, there is no difference between the intelligence and skills of a person who suffers feelings of Impostorism and those who don’t. The only difference is how they respond to those feelings.

If you have a moment of self-doubt, ask yourself the question, “Is this doubt I am feeling, an ‘idea doubt’ or ‘self-doubt.’”

One last word comes from Sindhumathi Revuluri, who points out, “Feeling like an impostor doesn’t have much to do with what you have done. It has to do with how you feel. We have all made errors and done things we have regretted. But that doesn’t make us idiots or bad at our jobs. Look at your successes and failures rationally and objectively.”

Ask yourself:

– When I look back at my career, how often have I been criticised by others for being incompetent?

– What hard and real evidence do I have that supports the view that I am not worthy to do my job? How can I stop my emotions distorting my view of my self-worth?

5. Don’t compare yourself to others

We often fail to realise that our feelings of self-doubt are also replicated in those that we work with. As Google’s Jennie Magiera so beautifully puts it, “Don’t compare your insides to other people’s outsides.”

We never see what’s going on in people’s brains yet assume that they are somehow free of all of the negative ‘self-talk’ that we suffer from. Yet, I can assure you that they are working through the same doubts as you are but responding differently to those doubts.

Also, don’t forget that, as your career progresses, you’ll naturally find that your peers are also more talented and smarter. When that happens, it’s much harder to ‘stand out’ in such gifted company. But don’t think of them as competition, rather than viewing each person as someone you can learn a lot from. They will also want to learn, I’m sure, from you.

Ask yourself:

– How much do I negatively compare my abilities to others around me?

– What must I do so that I see my fears, concerns and insecurities as ones that we all have and which are not, somehow, unique to me?

6. Realistically assess your competence

Many who experience Impostor Syndrome often seriously underplay their talents and skills. So, try and get an insight into the real talents and skills you possess. Question people. Go to your manager and ask, ‘Which skills do you feel are real strengths for me?” But don’t forget to also ask, “Which areas do you think would be good for me strengthen?” Then compare how close the feedback is with what you understand about yourself.

Make a list of all your achievements – inside and outside work. Don’t be modest: think hard about all the tasks and projects you have successfully delivered for others at work and at home. Give yourself the chance to admire the ‘real you’ in your life.

As Valerie Young says, “Feeling incompetent, and being incompetent, are very different things.”

Ask yourself:

– How often have I approached my manager or colleagues for feedback about my competence in my role?

– Who can I go to for balanced feedback about my strengths – and the areas I need to get better at?