How Can Mentorship Help Overcome Imposter Syndrome

Although it is not an official medical diagnosis, imposter syndrome is recognised by doctors as a valid psychological phenomenon that can occur to just about anyone. Research shows that certain factors (like gender and race) can increase the chances of experiencing imposter phenomenon. Women and people of colour are susceptible to experiencing this, especially if their workplace is underrepresented. 

In fact, 75% of female executives in various industries have gone through imposter syndrome. Evidence also shows that around 70% of adults can experience this at least once in their lives. Despite having certifications, training, and education, they have difficulty accepting their achievements and still feel inadequate. 

In this article, we’ll talk about how to overcome imposter syndrome and how it can affect the workplace. We’ll also share how mentoring can play a role in fighting impostorism.

What is Imposter Syndrome?

Journalists Claire Shipman and Katty Kay first popularised imposter syndrome under a different name– “the confidence gap.” They identified how women would often underestimate their abilities, second-guess themselves, and see themselves as undeserving of advancement, despite being capable of performing as well as their male counterparts. 

This is a key reason why fewer women are likely to put themselves forward when offered job opportunities. But what is imposter syndrome and why is it important to overcome it?

Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon that affects a lot of people, despite their professions, gender, or age. It is a fearful feeling of inadequacy and crediting achievements to luck instead of skills. Usually, it happens in times of a new job, a promotion, or facing a challenging project at work. 

Because they tend to second-guess their work, they end up having a constant fear of being exposed as a fraud. This causes a problem since it negatively affects an individual’s personal and professional growth. 

Signs of Imposter Syndrome?

The signs of imposter syndrome are easy to overlook, especially since it is not considered an official psychiatric diagnosis. But recognising the signs of imposter syndrome is the first step to overcoming the condition. Imposter syndrome can feel like:

• Feeling like you “got lucky” even if you worked hard 
• You don’t deserve the recognition and praise given to you
• Holding yourself to impossibly high expectations
• You avoid expressing confidence for fear that people will find it obnoxious
• You feel like you’re not enough
• Feeling like you’re a fraud
• You avoid opportunities for growth or visibility at your workplace

How Imposter Syndrome Affects You at Work

While many don’t see imposter syndrome as a serious threat to one’s health, it can have detrimental effects on one’s mental and emotional psyche. Other effects that can stem from uncontrolled imposter syndrome include depression, anxiety, lowered job satisfaction, impaired job performance, and burnout.

As a result, anyone who suffers from imposter syndrome may be hindered from career growth and job satisfaction. It can also cause individuals to overwork as they try to compensate for their feelings of self-doubt. 

Tips to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

So how can imposter syndrome be overcome? Here are a few tips to combat imposter syndrome:

1. Know that it can happen to anyone

Imposter syndrome is more common than you think. A study found that close to 82% experience this syndrome; even CEOs and top executives are prone to struggle with it. Both men and women have built successful careers while coping with it. 

2. Focus on facts 

Since imposter syndrome makes individuals fear accepting praise, they tend to second-guess themselves. This leads them to forget the thin line between humility and confidence. Having feelings of self-doubt is based on one’s fear and is not real. The best way to overcome this is to separate your feelings from facts. Focus on the compliments given to you. 

3. Know that it is normal

Completely getting rid of imposter syndrome can be tough, especially if it’s something you’ve dealt with for years. Some have dealt with imposter syndrome their whole lives and have become successful despite it, such as Don Cheadle and Maya Angelou. But knowing that imposter syndrome is normal can be a liberating feeling to overcome it. Negative self-talk is a bad habit and can have an impact on your life. Be kinder to yourself and be your own cheerleader. It will give you the confidence boost to see your worth. 

4. Celebrate your wins

One of the best ways to overcome imposter syndrome is to face it directly. The next time you receive praise for something you did, celebrate it with the people who matter to you. Another practice that you can do is to keep a list of feedback you’ve received, no matter how small it can be. On bad days, you can go through this list and remind yourself that you’re having just one bad day. You can also go through the list when you’re having a good day to keep yourself grounded. 

5. Stop being a perfectionist

Most of the time, people who deal with imposter syndrome are high achievers. They tend to have extremely high standards for themselves and are committed to being the best. Unfortunately, perfectionism is an ingredient for imposter syndrome. Since it makes you second-guess your achievements, you tend to compare yourself to an unrealistic or impossible outcome that you have set for yourself. It’s important to know that you can’t be perfect. You need to know when being good enough is enough. 

How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome with a Mentor

The best way to overcome imposter syndrome is to work with a mentor. Sharing your feelings of self-doubt with a mentor can help talk to you about your struggles. Through their role as a mentor, they can candidly share their point of view and own experiences on how they dealt with such feelings. 

A mentor can help you recognise your strengths, areas for improvement, achievements, and how you can overcome self-doubt that holds you back from doing more. They can also help you set realistic goals as you develop new skills and build the confidence you need to take on new challenges. Mainly, they help you see things from a different perspective so you can appreciate yourself more. 

Overcoming imposter syndrome isn’t an overnight process. It will take some time and effort before you’ll be able to break free from this cycle. With the guidance of the right mentor, you’re already well on your way to overcoming it. 

Brancher’s proprietary mentoring software bridges the gap between mentors and mentees based on values and attitude. We help minimise errors that lead to failed mentoring programs from poor matching decisions. Give us a call today to see our platform in action. 

Resources:

1. Weir, Kirsten. (2013, November). American Psychological Association. Feel like a fraud?. https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2013/11/fraud.

2, Davis, Darreonna. (2021, August 4). CNBC. Why Black and Latina women are more likely to struggle with impostor syndrome—and how to overcome it. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/04/why-black-and-latinx-women-struggle-more-with-impostor-syndrome.html.

3. KPMG International. (2022). Mind the Gap. https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/xx/pdf/2022/12/mind-the-gap.pdf.

4. Sakulku, Jaruwan; Alexander, James. (2011). Behavioral Science Research Institute. The Imposter Phenomenon. https://so06.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/IJBS/article/view/521/pdf. 

5. Kay, Katty; Shipman, Claire. (2014, April 15). Harper Business. The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self Assurance–What Women Should Know. https://www.amazon.com/Confidence-Code-Science-Self-Assurance-What-Should/dp/006223062X.  

6. NCBI. (2020, April). Prevalence, Predictors, and Treatment of Impostor Syndrome: a Systematic Review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7174434/. 

7. Botwin, Andy. (2023, August 15). SPC Consulting. Why Even Top Executives Experience Imposter Syndrome?. https://www.strategypeopleculture.com/blog/what-is-imposter-syndrome/#:~:text=In%20essence%2C%20imposter%20syndrome%20is,%2Ddoubt%20into%20self%2Dconfidence.