SMASHING Imposter Syndrome - even when I'm in over my head

IMPOSTER SYNDROME FLARE UP!

Warning: truthiness ahead.

And some insights to help you deal with your own imposter syndrome!

Impostor Syndrome Got To Me

I really hadn’t been presented with the phrase Imposter Syndrome until I became a coach. When I started this business, I felt out of place. Like I didn’t know what I was doing or if I really belonged in this sphere. It’s not the first time I’ve been through this and it won’t be the last!

Last night I had a bit of an impostor syndrome flare up! By now, I have a lot of experience under my belt, resources shooting out of my brain, and done tons of personal development. Still, even with all of that behind me, I was still open to feeling this way. When am I going to overcome this feeling? 

A Night at Syracuse University

There’s a six week immersion program at the University of Syracuse where students come up with an idea and make it a reality applying engineering and design concepts. Every week, twice a week, these students present their projects to groups of individuals that are in the community to get feedback on their project. Lo’ and behold I was invited!

In a room full of college students, I was there with four other judges who were male, engineers of some sort, and all highly educated. I already felt that I stuck out like a sore thumb among them but then the moderator asked us to tell everyone how we were affiliated with Syracuse University...which I’m not. Now I just felt like a fish out of water.

So the presentations continues and all the questions being asked to the students by the other judges were all engineering based. All of my questions were revolving around the user’s experience. I felt that eyes were rolling at me. Like people were thinking that I didn’t belong there. 

Being Different is Okay

Now, the engineers have a different way of thinking and I love how their brains work. It’s just different from mine. During the presentations they don’t see the sexist language some students presented or address the issues that could arise from a user coming in to use the student’s project. That’s my forte. I have a perspective that they don’t have...and honestly, that’s a good thing.

Having different kinds of people in the room is a good thing. We each offer a perspective that is valid and that can see things other aren’t able to. How great is that? Even two students came up to me after wishing that I could be there next week when they are presenting. They wanted my kind of perspective on their project! 

Crippling Under Pressure

While this feeling is totally normal, it can be absolutely terrifying. It can cause you to freeze up and not take the next leap forward. Keep you from taking action on the dreams you’ve formulated in your mind. You end up never making the leap on the thing that you want to do. 

Keeping the Ego in Check 

Honestly, I think that impostor syndrome can be a healthy thing. It keeps us fresh, and learning. While it can be really uncomfortable in the moment, there are ways to harness this anxiety. If we can recognize our reaction, we can maneuver ourselves into a growth mindset and ask ourselves questions that can keep us moving forward, rather than simply giving up because we “don’t belong”. So when impostor syndrome kicks in ask yourself: 

• What could I learn to feel more comfortable? 
• How much do I already know? 
• What is causing me to feel uncomfortable? 
• What can I learn from this situation? 
• What can I learn from the people I’m surrounded by? 

There are tons more that could pop up in this kind of refection, but there are a great starting point to get you moving in the right direction. 

Embrace Your Specialness 

When you are able to see your own value, it’s going to change everything. It’s going to keep you from spiraling into the oblivion of impostor syndrome. No matter what your experience, or your background, you have a perspective that has value. Your input could help change things for the better. You have something to teach someone.

Your impostor syndrome is not keeping your safe. It is keeping your safe. 

I challenge you this week to challenge yourself. 

Do something that is not authentic to you.

Do something that makes you feel a little uncomfortable. 

See how you feel after you do it. Whether you completely mess up or thrive in the situation, you’re going to learn something that can only lead to your growth.