Imposter syndrome is something people can experience at any stage of their life, and can be connected to both their professional and personal existence. From university students to CEOs of global organisations – anybody can fall victim to their own inner voice.
A survey by Executive Development Network found that 50% of UK adults have been affected by imposter syndrome. Of those grappling with it, 72% said it has held them back at work, causing them to doubt themselves and their contributions (30%), and worry about making a mistake (61%). And yet, despite its prevalence within the workforce, more than third of employees (36%) assumed their manager rarely or never experienced imposter syndrome – meaning they didn’t know who to turn to for support, and leaving them feeling isolated.
Now you could make an argument that this data suggests businesses aren’t doing enough to support their employees – and in some cases this will be true. But with imposter syndrome affecting such a disproportionate number of the workforce, can we necessarily blame leadership for not blowing the trumpet of their employees when they’re lacking in self-belief and confidence themselves?
Signs imposter syndrome could be impacting you, or your workforce
Imposter syndrome presents itself in certain ways. There may be a lack of self-belief, an inability to acknowledge achievements, a fear of being exposed as underqualified, and a dismissal of facts that evidence our own worth. Imposter syndrome is a feeling of intellectual fraudulence – a perception, not a reality. But this doesn’t change the fact that these negative thoughts and feelings can have a very real impact on our lives.
When suffering with imposter syndrome, individuals will be reluctant to ask for feedback in relation to their growth and development, and in turn, be unable to fulfil their potential. They won’t want to ask for support and will shy away from new opportunities – simply because they don’t feel they deserve them. And while organisations will likely see the end results – increased procrastination, higher turnover and reduced productivity – what they may not see is the root cause: employees who are struggling to maintain their mental wellbeing.
How can we support individuals battling imposter syndrome?
We can’t ever completely shut off our inner voice. But what we can do is learn to understand, acknowledge and manage it effectively – which is where coaching support becomes exceedingly valuable. Having a supported space to talk with someone they’re comfortable with will help employees normalise imposter syndrome and provide clarity on how to manage their thoughts and emotions more productively.
Awareness: Firstly, a coach will encourage their coachee to engage in regular self-reflection and to think about:
- How often they have negative thoughts
- What these thoughts are
- What triggers them
- How they’ve influenced their life
This will help employees to raise their own self-awareness around what imposter syndrome is and how it manifests itself. Any time a negative thought or feeling surfaces, they’ll then be able to recognise it as a byproduct of imposter syndrome and discuss it with their coach.
Acknowledge: Once an employee has gained clarity on how imposter syndrome presents itself, it’s time to focus on the why. Are they a perfectionist and thus more susceptible to feelings of self-doubt? Has a past experience influenced their perception of who they are? Or are societal biases factoring into their belief system? A coach will be able to help each individual understand what it is that’s driving these feelings of inadequacy and provide clarity on how it has skewed their perception of who they are.
Reframe: Finally, they’ll be equipped with the tools and techniques needed to reframe their thinking. Coachees can spend time identifying and articulating their strengths, value and personal brand, so that whenever negative feelings arise, they can disprove them with evidence. Having the ability to bring objectivity to their thoughts and challenge their feelings will help employees establish a much healthier state of mental wellbeing – one that they can maintain within both their professional and personal lives.
Watch our webinar for additional insight into imposter syndrome and some coping strategies that can be put into place immediately.
