Imposter Syndrome

 In Blog

For those that don’t know, Michael Parkinson was a major star on British TV from the 1970s until he recently died at the age of 88.  He was originally from Cudworth, a small mining village in Barnsley, South Yorkshire but he went on to be the host of the number one show on television (Parkinson) interviewing some of the most famous people on the planet – from Muhammad Ali of the sporting world to Hollywood greats  such as John Wayne and Robert De Niro through to musicians and pop stars such as Madonna and The Beatles along with hundreds of other ‘household names’.  His Saturday night TV show had viewing regular viewing figures of over 12 million people (including me with my parents) and regularly rose to 17 million – without doubt he was at the top.

And yet, I’ve just heard on the radio his son saying that all the way through this and since, he suffered with imposter syndrome.  It led me to think that if someone as big as Michael Parkinson suffered from it, what chance do we mere mortals have?

Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon that can significantly hinder personal and professional progress by instilling self-doubt and a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud, despite evidence to the contrary. This internal struggle undermines confidence, obstructs achievements, and impedes overall growth. Several factors contribute to its hold over us.

Firstly, imposter syndrome fosters a negative self-image, causing individuals to attribute their successes to external factors like luck or timing rather than acknowledging their skills and efforts. This inhibits goal pursuit as the fear of being ‘found out’ looms large.

Secondly, it fuels perfectionism, compelling individuals to set unrealistically high standards and setting them up for disappointment when these standards aren’t met. This fear of failure can paralyse progress and deter risk-taking which is crucial for growth.

Also, imposter syndrome promotes avoidance behaviour. People tend to dodge opportunities that could lead to success, as those opportunities may expose them to scrutiny. This can stall career advancements and personal development.

To overcome imposter syndrome, individuals can adopt various strategies:

  1. Self-Awareness: Recognising and acknowledging imposter feelings is the first step. Understanding that these feelings are common and not necessarily accurate can help diminish their power.
  2. Positive Self-Talk: Challenge negative self-talk with positive affirmations. Replace thoughts of inadequacy with self-encouragement, focusing on accomplishments and strengths.
  3. Mindfulness and Acceptance: Embrace imperfections and failures as part of the learning process. Mindfulness techniques can help manage anxious thoughts associated with imposter syndrome.
  4. Seek Support: Talk about your feelings with trusted friends, family, mentors, or therapists. Sharing these thoughts often provides a sense of relief and perspective.
  5. Internalising Achievements: Maintain a record of accomplishments, noting the effort and skills invested. Reflect on these records when self-doubt arises.
  6. Setting Realistic Goals: Establish achievable goals, acknowledging that mistakes and setbacks are natural. Celebrate progress, no matter how small.
  7. Learning Mindset: Focus on continuous learning and growth. Adopt a mentality that values the journey more than immediate perfection.
  8. Recognising Expertise: Realise that expertise is a result of continuous learning and experience, not innate talent. Everyone starts somewhere and gains competence and confidence over time.
  9. Accept Failure: Understand that failure is a stepping-stone to success. Many, if not most, successful individuals faced setbacks before achieving their goals.
  10. Celebrate Success: Acknowledge achievements and take pride in them. External validation can help reinforce your internal sense of accomplishment.
  11. Mentorship and Role Models: Seek guidance from mentors or look up to role models who have experienced imposter feelings. Learning from their experiences can be reassuring.

In conclusion, imposter syndrome can hinder progress by fostering self-doubt, perfectionism, and avoidance behaviours. However, with self-awareness, positive self-talk, support networks, and a growth mindset, individuals can overcome it and unlock their true potential.  Michael Parkinson’s life illustrated that imposter syndrome can strike anyone.  I strongly believe however that this should give us hope rather than fear – if successful people have imposter syndrome, there’s absolutely no need to let it hold us back.

Go for it, what’s the worst that can happen?

 

Recent Posts
Contact Us

We're not around right now. But you can send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap.