“Soul-destroying”: A leadership coach takes on imposter syndrome, and why the term should be banned
A 2023 survey* asked 1000 UK workers in the professional services sector how they feel in their place of work and what helps them feel more confident in the workplace. Although the majority of UK workers are confident at work, they still get the wobbles sometimes. The survey revealed that around 49% of UK workers feel they suffer from low confidence during performance reviews, even though 71% of those respondents feel confident at other times.
When it comes to why employees may feel like they lack confidence in the working environment, it may be down to imposter syndrome. Wellness and leadership coach Deborah (Debbie) Green shares what imposter syndrome is and how to overcome it, drawing on her 18 years’ experience in helping people get a leg up on their workplace confidence.
What is imposter syndrome?
Imposter syndrome is a psychological condition where people undervalue, and feel that they are unworthy of, their successful attributes and achievements and harbour an innate fear of being “found out”. YouGov found that half of Brits find themselves experiencing imposter syndrome, making it a common mental health condition in workplaces around the nation.
In treating workplace confidence issues, Debbie has found that imposter syndrome can affect anyone regardless of their seniority or level of experience. “When people say step into a coaching session,” she comments, “they are who they are in that moment, regardless of seniority. People have the same hang-ups about whether they’re good enough, or will they be caught out.”
What is the impact of imposter syndrome?
The impact of imposter syndrome changes from person to person, but those who have imposter syndrome tend to exhibit these behaviours:
- You believe you’ve fooled others into thinking you’re more skilled or capable than you are.
- You credit your success to external factors outside of your own abilities, such as luck.
- New tasks trigger feelings of anxiety and doubt, which you respond to with intense over-preparation, and relief when the task is done.
This cycle of behaviours can also lead to symptoms of anxiety and depression as a result of imposter syndrome, and make a person feel burned out at work.
Employers may think imposter syndrome manifests in their staff as nervousness handing in work or a lack of confidence when talking about their work, but in some cases, it has been seen that those with imposter syndrome overcompensate and provide a higher quality of work than they believe themselves capable. The BBC spoke to Basima Tewfik, assistant professor of Work and Organization Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, on the topic. Her study showed that those with imposter syndrome tend to excel even if internally they are suffering.
What scenarios may affect you at work?
Although imposter syndrome can be a factor in low confidence at work, our 2023 survey found that almost half (46%) of respondents feel that performance reviews are the main stress point when employees need a confidence boost.
Other scenarios people found left them with feelings of low confidence were beginning new projects (39%), client meetings (31%) and internal meetings (29%). These are all scenarios where a person needs to demonstrate their knowledge in the field.
Debbie shared with us that the most common insecurities she sees are a lack of confidence, questioning abilities, and little self-belief in the possibility of success – with workplace ‘firsts’ being a common cause of low confidence. She says: “being first at anything, so the first day in a new job, first day as a manager, the first time you might be running a presentation or a panel interview or being part of an event that’s going on, it can be quite daunting.”
How to overcome imposter syndrome?
When it comes to imposter syndrome, it’s not something you get rid of with just a positive attitude; it’s a process. But there are steps you can take to redirect those feelings and boost your confidence in your work.
Our study also found that 60% of people use music to help build up their self-confidence at work when faced with a stressful scenario, with their reasons for listening to it being that it makes them feel less anxious (45%), more relaxed (35%) and more confident (33%).
Debbie has dealt with imposter syndrome and low confidence in her clients but finds the term problematic. “I just wish it [the term imposter syndrome] could be banned and we could change it, because one, we’re not imposters, and two, we don’t have a syndrome.
“I think when people go, ‘maybe I’ve got imposter syndrome’, they search it, and then they go, ‘oh yeah, I’ve got that. I’m lacking in confidence. Yeah, I’ve got that. I’m not forthright. Yeah, that’s me. I don’t speak up in meetings. Oh yeah, that’s me.’ So, they self-diagnose themselves to have this syndrome, and don’t consider the nuances of the underlying anxieties.
“I think it can be actually quite soul-destroying for people because it can ruin any chances of success, and it can stop people from fulfilling their potential because of this fear, and this negative self-talk, that comes from waiting to be called out as an imposter.”
When it comes to overcoming low confidence and low self-esteem in the workplace, Debbie shares these tips:
Slow down
“Just breathe. Take a big deep breath, and plan. Give yourself time to do your planning and prep beforehand. Make sure you understand your role in the event or discussion, what you give and what you gain, and remind yourself that you’ve been invited to sit around the table because of who you are, not in spite of it. You’re there for a reason, and the role is yours to own.”
Remember why you’re there
“As part of your preparation, include an affirmation of your skillset; a run-through of your skills and talents, and recognise that you have value to bring to the table. Remind yourself again that you’ve been invited to the table because you’re the expert in your field, to give yourself the confidence and self-belief that you’re there because you and your skills are wanted and needed.”
Listen to music
“Music is a great tool for helping workplace anxieties, and I have used music in my coaching. I often have music just playing in the background because it relaxes my clients even though people are not aware of it, and once I understand the client’s preferences I might suggest to them, ‘have you considered using music as a way of calming you down?’. I’ve also encouraged them to use music as a way of visualising what they want their life to be about, and find a soundtrack that would sum up what they’re hoping for.”
How can employers help with their employees’ imposter syndrome?
Employers could help uplift their employees by playing music in the office. Choosing songs that have upbeat tempos and positive lyrics so that when employees need a boost of confidence or need something to tune out their negative thoughts, they’ll have the music to tune in to.
You could also look to implement a company culture that incentivises positive language around tasks, to allow your workers the baby steps they need to look at their challenging goals with a positive attitude instead of anxiety around their performance and in turn helping them in building confidence at work.
References:
- * A survey commissioned by PPL PRS of 1000 people in the UK who are working in offices and workplaces in the professional services sector in June 2023.
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