WHEN SUCCESS CAUSES STRESS – IMPOSTOR SYNDROME
Katrina Thurman, Vice President of Mission Development
Imagine this: you and your team just reached a goal and everyone is celebrating and congratulating each other – including congratulating you! Then, somewhere inside your head a little voice starts to speak, sowing seeds of doubt about the role you played. Maybe the voice is saying, “It was just good luck, it wasn’t really MY contribution that mattered.”, or “Why are they congratulating me? I’m just a fraud waiting to be found out”. That little voice can be pretty loud – particularly for high achievers. Does this sound familiar to you? You aren’t alone. Many of us have experienced similar feelings related to what professionals describe as Imposter Syndrome.
WHAT IS IMPOSTER SYNDROME?
Victims of Imposter Syndrome experience self-doubt and a sense of being a fraud, despite evident success. In other words, your mind is consistently doubting your skills and talents. The syndrome has roots in neuroscience. It is connected to the part of your brain that controls your “fight-or-flight” response to stressful situations.
Imposter Syndrome is the little voice whispering that your achievements are REALLY just about good luck, timing, or just being in the right place at the right time. Even worse, there is an intense fear that you will become exposed as a fraud. Ironically, it can strike hardest at moments of great success.
TAKING ACTION
Research has revealed lots of ideas and techniques that can help those of us who feel it. (Yes, I’m admitting that I have had many imposter syndrome moments across my career.) Here are a few easy solutions anyone can try:
- RECOGNIZE imposter feelings when they happen.
- TALK about these feelings with people you trust.
- REFLECT and REDIRECT your thoughts to focus on how your skills really did contribute to the success for which you are being recognized.
- ACCEPT that you may fail at times. Remind yourself that these moments do not define who you really are or what you are capable of achieving.
HOW CAN I SUPPORT MY TEAM?
A s a leader, you should watch for both verbal and nonverbal cues that Impostor Syndrome might be present. Pay attention to moments when someone shies away from promotions or big projects. Listen to how your team members explain their accomplishments and watch how they react to praise. When it comes to acting on these observations, engage in a conversation about it. Not every person is comfortable talking about these feelings, so be vulnerable with them upfront. Try some of these simple tips to get you started:
- ACKNOWLEDGMENT: Make your entire team aware that Imposter Syndrome exists and talk about it.
- PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE: Work to foster a psychologically safe environment in which team members can fail without blame, shame, or recrimination. Check in with your team and colleagues to get a sense of whether you’re achieving this goal or not, then take appropriate measures.
- OFFER RESOURCES: Extend your support by offering to mentor a teammate – or recommend a mentor for them – so they have someone to talk with about what they are experiencing. In addition, consider recommending this QUIZ to identify what “type” of imposter syndrome your team member falls in. This could be a good starting point for future mentoring conversations.
Finally, it is important to recognize what Imposter Syndrome is NOT. Just because you doubt your abilities at times, does not mean that you’re suffering from Imposter Syndrome. Sometimes you really will be out of your depth – and that is okay! In these instances, go to your leader, be honest about your abilities to perform, and seek help rather than just plugging away with no hope of reaching your goals. Whether you struggle with Imposter Syndrome or are dealing with something similar to it, know that there is support for you – because you deserve to be celebrated.
