Overcoming Imposter Syndrome & How to Find Satisfaction in Your Career
Man! I feel like an…Imposter?
People everywhere are searching for ways to find satisfaction in their career and overcome imposter syndrome. It is not unusual for people to feel like imposters, or feel like they are underqualified or unfit for a job. This unfortunately rings especially true for women, especially minority women. Even in modern day, gender inequality in workplace achievement recognition, salary, and promotion opportunities disproportionately affect women, as does imposter syndrome. This can lead to a lack of confidence at work and self-doubt, which can have negative effects on one’s mental health and work performance.
Even now, as women are becoming more prominent figures in the “Boy’s Club” of the workforce, women struggle to feel like they belong. Due to gender stereotypes, societal expectations, biases, and lack of female role models in high ranks, women are still questioning their place and confidence in high authority and high-earning roles.
This article aims to help you identify signs of imposter syndrome and ways to tackle it as well as how to gain confidence and find satisfaction in your career. If you feel you need a more personalized and individualized approach to coping with and overcoming imposter syndrome, we can help with a holistic, women-centered approach to identify barriers and improve self-determination to succeed in your career. You have earned your role and deserve to feel comfortable, successful and confident at work.
Before you dive in, remember that our professionals are always here to help
Identifying & Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Though not an actual clinical diagnosis, imposter syndrome is a term that has been used frequently in modern day and has grown rapidly in terms of research and data. This “syndrome” causes feelings of not belonging, feeling like an outsider, low self-esteem, feelings of incompetence, anxiety and depression. If this sounds like you and how you feel about your career, you are not alone. Studies show that up to 82% of people face feelings of this phenomenon.
Now that we identified some key “symptoms” of imposter syndrome, we can work on identifying when we are experiencing this feeling and negative self-talk and how to retrain our neural pathways and patterns to combat these thoughts.
How to Find Satisfaction in Your Career Despite Imposter Syndrome
Share your feelings.
As we mentioned before, many people have similar feelings and experiences when it comes to imposter syndrome in the workplace. Sometimes verbalizing these feelings can make us feel less alone and be able to ask for support and validation to build that confidence and help others cope with their feelings as well. Remember: you were hired because you are qualified and deserving!
Celebrate successes.
Each success, no matter how small, provides you with validation and evidence that you are qualified and good at your job. Use this as motivation and also as proof that your feelings of not belonging or being good enough are simply not true. This is one of the most important tenets of how to find satisfaction in your career.
Let go of perfectionism.
I know this one is much easier said than done. But you were not hired because you are perfect, no one is perfect. You were hired because you are knowledgeable, skilled, experienced, motivated, and professional. Aiming for perfection and unreasonable expectations will result in disappointment and that is not fair to yourself. Set realistic goals and expectations.
Go easy on yourself.
Starting a new job or role is stressful. Everyone realizes you are learning and getting used to things and it will take time to become fully integrated and independent in your role, especially as a woman in a male-dominated field. Let go of perfectionism and be kind to yourself, you are doing your best.
Share your failures.
Mistakes happen and that is OK, the best way to handle a mistake or failure is to acknowledge it, own it and learn from it. Sharing your failures can help you troubleshoot and gain experience.
Gaining Confidence in Real Life Scenarios
Each situation and workplace will differ, but there are some common, universal experiences that women experience in a male-dominated workplace. Whether it is being talked down to, being dismissed, paid less, excluded or stereotyped solely on the basis of sex, about 4 in 10 U.S women have experienced gender discrimination at work. In these situations, it is important to advocate for yourself. Women should not have to work harder to prove themselves. By speaking up and calling attention and action to these issues, women can gain confidence and security in the career and also help positively impact the experiences of many other professional women.
Finding Holistic & Women-Centered Support
A lot of this is easier said than done, and sometimes an article with tips and tricks is not enough and that is okay! Fortunately, mental health professionals know interventions and techniques, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, to work with you on an individual level to challenge and reframe these negative thoughts. It could be difficult and intimidating to talk to someone about imposter syndrome because sometimes women who voice their opinion are thought of as complaining or being difficult. LunaJoy offers services focused on women’s mental health because they understand that women face different and specific hardships in their personal and professional lives.
