Work in leadership has indicated that many high achieving people, (and especially women) experience a coined psychological term related to self-doubt– though not really a condition—called the “imposter syndrome”. It looks like /sounds like: “I’m not good enough.” “I’ve never done this before”. “They’re going to find me out.” “I don’t deserve this, I’m not that good…I’ve just been lucky”
Every day talented business people struggle with thoughts like these; you may be one of them. It can show up before an important meeting, a presentation, a new project or worse, it could even be a habitual daily ritual, like brushing your teeth (which you mindlessly concede to because you’ve always thought this way).
Most people don’t reveal these thoughts to others. It’s an internal battle between being confident and being in a concealed state of angst. For those that do (at the wrong place, at the wrong time and with the wrong people), the mystery is revealed and they are often dismissed as not confident enough to succeed in business – hence a dilemma.
In looking at this dilemma, we think about the famous line in Henry David Thoreau’s Walden: the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation, and go to their grave with the song still in them. How tragic don’t you think?
Like the “”Fear Monster” we have written about, the imposter syndrome has an insidious impact on our lives: if we truly believe it (that we are imposters), we are likely not to take action and do the very thing that we feel we should do or aspire to do. And this could be starting a business, expanding and growing a business, taking calculated risks in advancing our careers– and in enjoying the success we have achieved.
What’s the most interesting, however, is that it’s not true! Most of it is fabricated out of fear and self-induced limitation. So it goes like this. We make something up that’s negative about ourselves (our performance, competency, capabilities and opportunties) and we fertilize it by giving it more time and mental energy then it deserves. Over time it starts to grow, and like weeds, begins to infest our mind. And where does it lead? It leads to a self-fulfilled prophecy. It leads to what we have described as being unhappily successful. It leads to self-sabotage. It leads to not taking action that could have a positive impact on ourselves and those we work with. Being aware and acknowledging that it does happen to most people at some point, is the starting point to overthrowing the imposter syndrome.
In our Quick Tips on Thursday, we will provide more ideas on ways to eliminate this thinking and potential derailer in your performance and advancement
Copyright 2010 Kubica and LaForest
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