Who… me? Confronting Imposter Syndrome
Disclaimer: the opinions expressed by the author of this article don't necessarily represent the opinions of NAWA as an organization.
The doubts come crowding in: How am I supposed to make that decision? Can I really figure this out? Who am I to lead the project? Your Imposter Syndrome is flaring up again and that’s okay. Let’s talk about this common phenomenon and what we can do about it.
What is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter Syndrome is the belief that your accomplishments and position are a product of luck instead of skill and hard work. These thoughts can affect anyone, but women tend to experience these doubts more frequently and intensely than men. Women often attribute success to luck and effort instead of ability. Conversely, woman tend to site a lack of ability as the reason for failure. In comparison, men typically believe accomplishments are driven by their talent and failures are caused by luck or task difficulty. Continued accomplishment does not seem to diminish the feeling of imposter syndrome for high-achieving women. Self-doubt can cause stress and discomfort, but it doesn’t need to.
Tips and Tricks
What can you do to handle these feelings of uncertainty and apprehension? Here are some tips and tricks that have helped me. Hopefully one or more will resonate with you!
Use Reverse Empathy.
Put others in your shoes; Anyone would need to learn the nuances of the company, line of business, and job. Remember -- it’s not you, it’s the nature of doing something new and challenging. Recognizing that these feelings aren’t personal may help diminish their effect.
Notice it.
When do these feelings of imposter syndrome come up? Is it when you’re asked about a particular topic? The answer may clue you into an opportunity to strengthen your skillset or narrow in on a solution.
Be patient.
The best way to learn the job or task is to do the job or task. With anything, it takes time to adjust to new expectations and goals. Making a resolution to check back in with yourself in a month, quarter, or year to see how things are going and recognize how far you’ve come. Reflecting on steps that lead to improvement over time will build your confidence.
Accept it.
Know that imposter syndrome crops up sometimes. It’s alright. Take a few deep breaths or go for a short walk and then come back to the task. Disrupting the thought pattern with a conscious change of activity can clear and refocus your mind.
Appreciate it!
Imposter syndrome likely means you’re challenging yourself. You’re getting out of your comfort zone. This is a point of pride! Great job! Reframing the uncomfortable feelings as a positive sign diminishes their impact.
Following My Own Advice
I have to admit, I’m feeling imposter syndrome right now as I write this article. Who am I to give advice? Are my writing skills good enough to publish online? Do I want people to know that I experience imposter syndrome? So, here is how I’m applying my tips:
Accept it: I remind myself that doubts like this crop up from time to time. My stress diminishes when I acknowledge that this is typical for me and remind myself that these doubts will subside like other doubts have before.
Notice it: I wonder why I’m experiencing Imposter Syndrome now? I am typically a confident person, so writing about feeling less-than-confident makes me feel vulnerable. This is challenging for me, so I’ll try to appreciate the feeling as a signal that I’m getting outside of my comfort zone.
This brings me to why I’m choosing to get out of my comfort zone; I want to encourage others to persevere through discomfort and limiting thoughts.
What about you?
I hope this article will resonate with the NAWA network and start a conversation about these common feelings. What sets off your Imposter Syndrome? What tips and tricks do you use? Let me know in the comments and let’s start a conversation.
Learn More:
https://www.jordanharbinger.com/how-to-stop-feeling-like-an-imposter/
https://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_cox_what_is_imposter_syndrome_and_how_can_you_combat_it
https://www.ted.com/podcasts/reese-witherspoon-on-impostor-syndrome-confidence-transcript
Andrea Everling is Vice President of Actuarial Services at MWCIA. Ms. Everling has a Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science/Finance from Drake University. Ms. Everling is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. Before joining MWCIA, Ms. Everling worked on the carrier side performing ratemaking and reserving for commercial insurance product. Ms. Everling is passionate about providing data-driven insights into the Workers’ Compensation environment in Minnesota. When Andrea isn’t focusing on the workers’ compensation industry, you may find her teaching fitness classes, talking about podcasts, or trying out a new sustainability hack.