Imposter syndrome (IS) is a behavioural health phenomenon described as self-doubt of intellect, skills, or accomplishments among high-achieving individuals. In short, Impostor Syndrome is the near-crippling fear of failure and of being caught out as a fraud. Most people who are fresh into a role or who have stepped up in their career will experience this phenomenon however it's not all doom and gloom. Those who experience Impostor Syndrome tend to have a higher quality of leadership and care, strong initiative and quality of work and can even develop serious mental resilience with it. Below we're deep diving into Impostor Syndrome, identifying what it is, how it functions and how you can rise above it.
Impostor syndrome. We’re all familiar with it – that dreaded thought process that lingers in the back of your mind, causing you to doubt whether you’re the right fit for your new role. Perhaps it’s your first time in the industry, your first step out of university, or a promotion up into management where you’re dealing with people. Regardless of the situation, impostor syndrome can help us feel like we’re not as capable as we truly are. However, not all is lost, as you can spin this in your favour with the below tips and tricks.
If you’re a fan of Lea Salonga’s rendition of Reflection from Disney’s Mulan, then you’ll be all too familiar with the concept of not recognising your own reflection. Impostor syndrome has been rife for generations and in most instances has actually led to some surprising results. A Harvard Business Review from May 2022 highlighted many of the potential benefits of Impostor Syndrome and how it can actually be used to your advantage. Vaster than merely doubting oneself, impostor syndrome has shown signs of effective leadership, encouragement of confidence in others and a significant upswing in quality of work compared to standard employees.
The internet is rife with articles telling you how to build up your self-confidence, and how to be a boss like a boss, offering no shortage of helpful, albeit uninvited, solutions to the crisis which you are feeling. However, often these aren’t the solutions you might be hoping for. If you’re an introvert, then it’s unlikely that you’ll be comfortable following the steps provided in those blogs, which are more formulated towards the extroverts in our lives.
So how do we identify impostor syndrome? It can be characterised as a feeling or fear that others around you perceive you as being less capable than you truly are. After generations of business practices that cared little for the mental and physical wellbeing of an employee, it’s unsurprising that impostor syndrome has taken hold. Researchers have examined and changed the narrative on this however and have assessed the positive impacts that impostor syndrome can have. If you’re still in doubt, here are a few of the key elements which can actually make impostor syndrome beneficial to your new role:
1. Higher quality of leadership and care. Those experiencing impostor syndrome tend to be so conscious of what others are thinking that they focus on the experience of others at all times. This can be beneficial as it means team members feel supported and cared for at all times.
2. Strong initiative and higher quality work. Feeling a need to prove oneself often results in a higher quality of work being delivered, and a stronger initiative driving self-motivated work. This can see IS-led teams achieve a higher level of performance initially as the output of work is substantial.
3. Impostor syndrome can help with mental resilience. In a study conducted by Basima A. Twefik, Assistant Professor at MIT Sloan, she found that impostor syndrome can make you more resilient to setbacks and criticism. Awareness of your doubts, and charging through them nonetheless, results in development of mental strength against difficult challenges.
So, if you’ve been hired for the role; chances are the boss believes in you, so give yourself a chance and back your decisions all the way.
Thanks for your interest in what we do here at FIND. We love meeting and helping amazing kiwis every day and will always do our best for our clients and candidates. We've been simplifying the recruitment game since 2008, so don't hesitate to get in touch if you need our help!
