What is Imposter Syndrome?
I have spent my years since Princeton, while at law school and in my various professional jobs, not feeling completely a part of the worlds I inhabit. I am always looking over my shoulder wondering if I measure up. - Sonia Sotomayor
As evidenced in the quote by Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic and the third woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States, impostor syndrome is a common phenomenon that affects many people in the workplace. What does impostor syndrome look and feel like? You might believe that your successes are due to luck or good timing, rather than your skills and hard work, and you may have feelings of anxiety and stress, as well as a fear of being "found out" by colleagues or superiors.
If you are dealing with impostor syndrome, you are not alone.
We all experience self-doubt at some point in our lives. Impostor syndrome is when that self-doubt overwhelms your ability to achieve and thrive. A massive part of why it exists is due to the biases, microaggressions, and structural inequity in our workplaces. Solving that will take leaders and managers making change, for good.
But as they do, let's continue to combat impostor syndrome in ourselves. Let's learn to acknowledge and internalize our accomplishments. Focus on our strengths and recognize the unique skills and talents that we each bring to the table. Mistakes and failures are a part of the learning process and are opportunities for growth. Don't be afraid to ask for help or guidance from those you trust when you need it.
Remember, you deserve to be where you are, and your accomplishments are a result of your hard work and dedication.
Do the work
This week, I commit to celebrating my successes, cultivating self-compassion, and being kind to myself. I will be open to new opportunities and volunteer my hard-won expertise.
Spread the word
If you want to keep going
You Belong Here: What Everyone Should
Know and Do About Impostor Syndrome
Do you ever walk into your workplace and feel out of place? Do you ever feel that no matter how perfect you do a job, it is never perfect enough? Do you constantly feel that someday, someone, somewhere will stand up, point their finger at you, and expose you for who you truly know you are – a fraud? This is impostor syndrome. But what causes it? How do our workplaces perpetuate it? And what can we do to transform it? In this program, we are going to work together to battle those feelings of exclusion, connect with the values we bring into the workplace, and lean into the absolute certainty that we belong here.
