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Abstract

ccidents, conflict, and poor quality of work.</a></p><p id="0cae">In university, I managed a group of 25+ orientation leaders. These individuals ran orientation programs for the school, meaning we hosted and led 250–350 people per day. Throughout the summer, it was quickly apparent that the orientation leaders who thought they knew the program perfectly had the worst relationships with their students. Their students would wander off, miss sessions, and would leave with insufficient information.</p><p id="4689">Leaders with less confidence in the job would reach out to me to ask questions, check-in with their students, and reassess their work plan every day. These leaders had their students engaged and thrilled about an otherwise long, speech-heavy day. They recognized that there were still lessons and work to be done, and actively tried to improve.</p><p id="ce92">If your imposter syndrome is making you feel incompetent or less knowledgeable than your peers, leverage that feeling to dive deeper. Improve your craft, read more books, and ask more questions. We can all use a reminder that there are still lessons to be learned, and work to be done.</p><h1 id="e64f">Use it to overcome your insecurities</h1><p id="f0e3">I’ve let insecurity stop me from doing a lot in my 24 short years of life. I can see this pathway of insecurities as clear as day starting from childhood. <i>They’ll give this role in the play to someone else. Your ‘A+’ was only luck. They accepted you to meet a quota. They didn’t read your application essay, just randomly selected you.</i></p><p id="5033">I’ve let this voice guilt and shame me into not celebrating my own successes. I’ve also allowed it to stop me from pushing myself further, and meeting myself where I am — and I’m not alone. Research has shown that many people with chronic insecurities <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/melodywilding/2016/07/11/why-do-so-many-women-feel-like-frauds-4-tips-to-deal-with-chronic-self-doubt/?sh=69a217f66730">developed these in childhood. </a>The patterns and mindset we establish as kids can bleed into our adult lives in an unhealthy way through imposter syndrome. Use these thoughts of doubt to centralize where those feelings are coming from, triggers for those feelings, and recognize it as something you can, with work, overcome.</p><h1 id="dab9">Use it to get comfortable with being uncomfortable</h1><p id="c5fc">The comfort zone in psychology is a state<i> </i>where<a href="https://positivepsychology.com/comfort-zone/"> a person operates in an anxiety-neutral condition</a> to avoid risk, causing their growth to plateau. Rather than taking a risk, applying for t

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he job, or putting ourselves in a position to be hurt, we often retreat into familiarity. But if you aren’t pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, you aren’t truly growing as a person, just simply existing by playing it safe.</p><p id="abb6">Experiencing imposter syndrome means that you have already begun the painful task of leaving your comfort zone behind. Your senses are heightened, and your anxiety is awakened. You’re taking steps toward growth, and further developing yourself. This state of being uncomfortable gives you the best chance of making a mistake, learning, and mastering your new goal.</p><h1 id="feb7">Use it to lean on others</h1><p id="af2e">When I started my job, and the feelings of imposter syndrome started to eat away at me, I knew I needed support. While I did, in reality, have the ability to learn on the job, follow along with process documents and templates, and create a clear understanding of my work goals; there were many technical tasks I did not yet understand. I was new to using zoom and excel in a professional capacity, and let that fact take a hit to my self-esteem.</p><p id="f97d">After weeks of stressfully googling answers to otherwise relatively simple technical questions, I decided to sit down with my colleagues and ask for help. Simply shooting them an email, or setting up a brief 15–20 minute meeting, taught me so much more than my googling ever did. It also allowed me to begin to form deeper connections with my coworkers, opening the door for them to lean on me for support, too.</p><p id="d55a">Imposter syndrome can often make you feel like you’re off on an island, alone. In reality, most, if not all, of the people you’re comparing your life to are facing the exact same struggle. Use your imposter syndrome as a reminder to reach out to others for help, guidance, and knowledge. Leverage your relationships with your coworkers, mentors, and friends, in a way that makes you feel empowered. Instead of comparing yourself to their achievements, embrace them as helpful resources to meet your goals.</p><h1 id="803f">What to Take Away</h1><p id="b341">Feelings of imposter syndrome will ebb and flow throughout your life. But remember that your feelings of self-doubt are just a reminder of how far you’ve come, and how far you have left to grow. Give yourself the room to be imperfect, to make mistakes, and start over. As people, we are all a work in progress, and all have room to grow. Be kind to yourself as you work through your challenges, and forgive yourself when you reach setbacks. As long as you’re always actively trying to improve, you’re well on your way to success.</p></article></body>

4 Ways to Use Imposter Syndrome to Your Advantage

Steps to reimagine the narrative

I remember reading job applications online, my senior year of college, and looking through each long list of qualifications. The entire time, I heard a nagging voice in my head as I submitted my resume and cover letters: You don’t have enough experience. You aren’t ready for these jobs. They’re looking for someone else. They won’t pick you.

Even on the day I finally started my first salaried job, the voice continued to persist, they’ll change their mind. They’ll see you aren’t qualified.

This nagging voice is the product of imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is the belief that you are only succeeding through luck and random chance, and not for your work ethic or accomplishments. You’re insecure over your work, don’t accept praise, and live in fear of being exposed as a “fraud”.

Imposter syndrome is said to affect over 70% of people at some point throughout their lifetime. The physiological and real-world consequences of this internal voice of doubt can negatively impact the lives of those who experience it by causing burnout, anxiety, and stress.

But, contrary to popular belief, imposter syndrome is not always a bad thing. Through some self-awareness and focus, you can leverage your feelings of imposter syndrome through the following steps.

Use it to dig in and learn

Overconfidence hinders a person’s ability to truly grow and develop within their career path. They walk into every new job with the belief that they already know it all, have nothing else to learn, and everything to gain. But in reality, feeling overconfident at work can lead to accidents, conflict, and poor quality of work.

In university, I managed a group of 25+ orientation leaders. These individuals ran orientation programs for the school, meaning we hosted and led 250–350 people per day. Throughout the summer, it was quickly apparent that the orientation leaders who thought they knew the program perfectly had the worst relationships with their students. Their students would wander off, miss sessions, and would leave with insufficient information.

Leaders with less confidence in the job would reach out to me to ask questions, check-in with their students, and reassess their work plan every day. These leaders had their students engaged and thrilled about an otherwise long, speech-heavy day. They recognized that there were still lessons and work to be done, and actively tried to improve.

If your imposter syndrome is making you feel incompetent or less knowledgeable than your peers, leverage that feeling to dive deeper. Improve your craft, read more books, and ask more questions. We can all use a reminder that there are still lessons to be learned, and work to be done.

Use it to overcome your insecurities

I’ve let insecurity stop me from doing a lot in my 24 short years of life. I can see this pathway of insecurities as clear as day starting from childhood. They’ll give this role in the play to someone else. Your ‘A+’ was only luck. They accepted you to meet a quota. They didn’t read your application essay, just randomly selected you.

I’ve let this voice guilt and shame me into not celebrating my own successes. I’ve also allowed it to stop me from pushing myself further, and meeting myself where I am — and I’m not alone. Research has shown that many people with chronic insecurities developed these in childhood. The patterns and mindset we establish as kids can bleed into our adult lives in an unhealthy way through imposter syndrome. Use these thoughts of doubt to centralize where those feelings are coming from, triggers for those feelings, and recognize it as something you can, with work, overcome.

Use it to get comfortable with being uncomfortable

The comfort zone in psychology is a state where a person operates in an anxiety-neutral condition to avoid risk, causing their growth to plateau. Rather than taking a risk, applying for the job, or putting ourselves in a position to be hurt, we often retreat into familiarity. But if you aren’t pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, you aren’t truly growing as a person, just simply existing by playing it safe.

Experiencing imposter syndrome means that you have already begun the painful task of leaving your comfort zone behind. Your senses are heightened, and your anxiety is awakened. You’re taking steps toward growth, and further developing yourself. This state of being uncomfortable gives you the best chance of making a mistake, learning, and mastering your new goal.

Use it to lean on others

When I started my job, and the feelings of imposter syndrome started to eat away at me, I knew I needed support. While I did, in reality, have the ability to learn on the job, follow along with process documents and templates, and create a clear understanding of my work goals; there were many technical tasks I did not yet understand. I was new to using zoom and excel in a professional capacity, and let that fact take a hit to my self-esteem.

After weeks of stressfully googling answers to otherwise relatively simple technical questions, I decided to sit down with my colleagues and ask for help. Simply shooting them an email, or setting up a brief 15–20 minute meeting, taught me so much more than my googling ever did. It also allowed me to begin to form deeper connections with my coworkers, opening the door for them to lean on me for support, too.

Imposter syndrome can often make you feel like you’re off on an island, alone. In reality, most, if not all, of the people you’re comparing your life to are facing the exact same struggle. Use your imposter syndrome as a reminder to reach out to others for help, guidance, and knowledge. Leverage your relationships with your coworkers, mentors, and friends, in a way that makes you feel empowered. Instead of comparing yourself to their achievements, embrace them as helpful resources to meet your goals.

What to Take Away

Feelings of imposter syndrome will ebb and flow throughout your life. But remember that your feelings of self-doubt are just a reminder of how far you’ve come, and how far you have left to grow. Give yourself the room to be imperfect, to make mistakes, and start over. As people, we are all a work in progress, and all have room to grow. Be kind to yourself as you work through your challenges, and forgive yourself when you reach setbacks. As long as you’re always actively trying to improve, you’re well on your way to success.