Consumption

Despite all the markers of you proffessional success, your inner voice sometimes lets you know that you are not as talented as your colleagues. Deep down, you're convinced that your success is due to fate or luck. Do you feel a lack of self-confidence, do you suffer from complexes, do you have a tendency to self-deprecation? It's possible that you are suffering from imposter syndrome…

Constantly doubting your abilities and skills, not feeling legitimate, feeling like you don't deserve the place you occupy, being convinced that your reputation is usurped, hating being the center of attention… Imposter syndrome is a psychological mechanism that leads a person to deny their merits and successes.

Imposter syndrome is very common. About 7 out of 10 people can be affected by this syndrome, or experience an episode of this syndrome, at least once in their life. This unpleasant feeling often occurs during one's first professional experience, a transition period (promotion within a company or organization) or even a professional retraining.

While questioning yourself at work can be a good thing - because it allows us to develop our potential - living in constant anxiety about not being up to par can quickly become exhausting. In the long run, these limiting beliefs become disabling. They undermine your confidence and self-esteem, erode your resources and compromise the development of your potential.

Although imposter syndrome is very common, it is crucial to recognize it quickly and develop good reflexes to overcome it.

Imposter syndrome, what are the signs?

Here are some signs that may indicate that you are suffering from imposter syndrome:

- Having the conviction that you're wearing a mask and deceiving those around you: "I am not legitimate for this position, my colleagues will realize it sooner or later."
- Feeling fear, or even anxiety, following the systematic questioning of one's skills: "I'm probably doing my job badly since I'm not in the right place".
- Attributing one's success(es) to factors external to oneself (luck, chance or a happy misunderstanding...) and not to one's own actions and behaviors.
- People suffering from imposter syndrome will put strategies in place to compensate for this feeling of 'deception' felt. Here are a few:

Hard workers: Although these traits are common to any persevering individual, the person suffering from imposter syndrome works tirelessly for fear of being unmasked. They will over-invest in their work to compensate for the systematic questioning of their skills. They adopt performance anxiety control strategies that are noted by exacerbated perfectionism and hyper-sharp expertise. This is then an escalation in a vicious circle, sometimes leading to exhaustion… (overwork, burnout, depression).

Flight or procrastination: in other people, avoidance strategies will be at play. Feeling wrongly incapable, some individuals will unconsciously sabotage themselves. This can result in ‘missed actions’: an absence, a delay, not submitting a report, etc. This allows the person to avoid being confronted with congratulations or recognition. On the other hand, this hinders all possibilities of development and evolution.

Dysfunctional thoughts and/or ruminations: People tirelessly try to understand why they were chosen for a particular position or to accomplish a particular mission. Their reasoning is based on perpetual denigration, they have difficulty recognizing that their merit is linked to their work, their qualities and their skills.

Loneliness: some people think that they must work alone. They never ask for help because they identify in this behavior proof of their imposture.

Do you think you suffer from impostor syndrome? Don't panic, it's not inevitable. There are indeed techniques to overcome this syndrome. Their main objective will be to work on your false beliefs. This work of introspection will give you a new reading of your personal journey and your own successes, qualities and skills. This analysis will allow you to restore your legitimacy and take a benevolent look at yourself.

Here are some self-coaching exercises that you can already do:

• List your own successes by identifying your skills and abilities that allowed them. Your successes are not only linked to luck or chance.
• Be aware of those inner voices that criticize, judge or devalue you and silence them!
• Accept compliments and positive feedback from your superiors or loved ones. Even consider writing them down in a notebook. You can reread them regularly.
• Finally, celebrate your successes, both small and large!

If imposter syndrome becomes so overwhelming that you develop anxiety disorders that handicap you on a daily basis, consider consulting a relationship support specialist. A coach or psychotherapist who will help you restore your self-esteem and become less dependent on the gaze of others.

(MH with FvE - Sources: Wikipedia, Le Dauphiné, RTBF and various - Picture: Pixabay)