In our New Year special edition of the WO-Down podcast, our
host Cynthia chatted to Jacqueline Daley, business advisor at the Women’s Organisation;
Irene Afful, founder and director or Ametrine Enterprise Solutions; and Denise
Chilton, Executive Business and Leadership coach. There was one theme that
continued to come up as we spoke about all things business: imposter syndrome.
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| From L-R: Irene Afful, Denise Chilton, and Jacqueline Daley |
Imposter syndrome can be defined as a feeling of inadequacy
and self-doubt, which overrides any proof of success and competence. Simply
put, it’s feeling like a fraud, as though your achievements are down to pure
luck, and you could be found out and exposed as a fake at any given moment.
Many highly successful people experience imposter syndrome,
so it isn’t necessarily related to low self-esteem or confidence, and it can
manifest itself in a few ways:
Perfectionism: Some people set excessively high (and
unachievable) goals for themselves, then berate themselves when they don’t
measure up. Perfectionists can have difficulty delegating, believing that the
work would be done to a higher standard by themselves – and even then, it’s
still not good enough. Mistakes are a natural part of growing and can make you
better than before!
Being ‘Superman’: As imposter syndrome can invite
feelings of inadequacy in comparison to their peers, some attempt to tackle
these sentiments by working harder and longer to prove their worthiness, often
to the detriment of their mental health.
The ‘Natural’: It’s indisputable that some people are
naturally better at some things that others, but it is unrealistic to expect to
be great at everything, especially first time around. These types of people
also set the bar impossibly high, but also judge themselves if they don’t
instantly grasp something new the first time.
Going Solo: Rule 101: it’s okay to ask for help. It’s
highly common for imposter syndrome to make you believe that asking for help
will reveal your fraudulence, meaning you would rather struggle along alone.
Being independent is great, but asking questions is the only way we can learn –
and no one will judge you for it!
The ‘Expert’: The feeling that you don’t know enough
is particularly common one, especially when going self-employed. Why would
someone pay you for your services when you don’t know everything there is to
know on a subject? It can also stop people from applying for jobs when they
don’t meet every single specification, as they’re fearful of being ‘found out’
as not knowing enough.
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| Introducing our new series, 'Women in...', where we'll be talking to women leading in their fields |
So, the big question is: how do we overcome imposter
syndrome? Recognising it is the first step to helping yourself, and considering
the context in which you feel like an ‘imposter’. Maybe it’s a situation that
you have never met, or you feel out of your depth, in which case, reframe how
you feel: ‘the fact that I feel useless right now does not mean that I really
am’.
A pertinent point raised by the panel in the podcast was the
fact that we are our own harshest critic. How do we speak to ourselves? Would
we speak to others in the same way? Be kinder to yourself, reward your big
achievements and forgive yourself for your mistakes – if we think of failure as
a learning opportunity, then we’ll be less scared to not achieve. Jacqueline
also advised creating a character for your ‘imposter’, making it a separate
entity and removing it from yourself.
Imposter syndrome is an all-too-common occurrence,
especially if you’re keen to do a job well. Overcoming internalised feelings of
inadequacy is no mean feat, but with some self-care and the realisation that
you’re always learning, you can outgrow and defeat your ‘imposter’.
If you’re a woman in enterprise and feel like you would
benefit from support (managing your imposter syndrome or otherwise!), the
Women’s Organisation provide business support for businesses that have been
registered on Companies House for under 42 months. This support is fully funded
under our Enterprise Hub programme for those that are eligible. To enquire,
please contact: enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk
or 0151 706 8113.
The WO-Down is
a monthly podcast by The Women’s Organisation, hosted by Cynthia B.
Delving into
the why, what and how some of the region’s most prolific entrepreneurs and
brightest minds have got to where they are today.
Sharing the stories of various people from a range of industries, backgrounds and walks of life,
The WO-Down
aims to promote a new wave of role models and inspire people to take the leap
of faith to pursue their business or personal dreams.
New episode
out every 1st Wednesday of the month.
To listen to this episode in full, please visit:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/thewodown
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