Impostor Syndrome? Don’t Sabotage Your Hard Work
“Hi. I’m Mary Ellen and I’m faking it.”
No, I’m not putting that on my name badge at the AIIP 2024 Symposium, but if I did, I know that many people would sidle up to me and admit they are faking it, too. We’re the people who suffer from Impostor Syndrome at one time or another. Do you worry that people will finally realize you’re not the smart, capable expert they thought you were? Do you think your success is due to luck or a fluke rather than to the fact that you are an astute business owner? Do you obsess about making a mistake, and do you interpret any constructive criticism as further proof of your incompetence?
Many of us suffer from this fear of someone finally discovering that, in fact, we have no particular skills or abilities—that what we’re doing is so easy that anyone could do it. What often causes Impostor Syndrome is our undervaluing our innate talents and gifts. If something comes naturally to us, we assume that it must be easy for everyone and that we would look foolish bragging about it.
The people most likely to experience Impostor Syndrome are often those who are high achievers, those labeled “gifted” as children, and those with very specialized skills. It appears that a lot of independent info pros fit that profile. In fact, one of the appealing aspects of being our own boss is that we don’t have to worry about co-workers finally discovering we’re the frauds we believe we really are.
Feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy may never disappear entirely, but you can learn to recognize and counteract them with these techniques:
- Avoid using words like “only” or “just” when describing or thinking about your expertise and background. Own your skills and your industry knowledge.
- Don’t apologize for yourself or insult yourself. Don’t attribute to luck what you created by recognizing an opportunity. Pay attention to instances when you dismiss or downplay praise. We often have an easier time believing in our inadequacies than in our accomplishments. Start acknowledging and internalizing compliments instead of brushing them off.
- Trust your clients’ judgment. Are you truly surrounded by such foolish people that no one sees the true you? It’s more likely that their evaluation of you is as accurate as their evaluation of others.
- Seek support, not validation. Don’t battle Impostor Syndrome alone. Share your struggles with fellow AIIPers on the AIIP-L discussion list or with a trusted mentor or accountability buddy. (Peer to peer support is available to AIIP members.) Their empathy and understanding can be a powerful antidote to self-doubt. But be wary of seeking constant validation. Focus on building intrinsic confidence, not dependence on external approval.
- Learn to “act as if.” The advice to “fake it ‘til you make it” doesn’t sit well with most people; who wants to be fake? I focus on the practice of acting as if I feel competent and confident—I just ask myself how I would act if I felt confident. Would a confident version of me walk up to someone I don’t know at the conference, smile, introduce myself, and ask what has been most thought-provoking so far? Even someone with Impostor Syndrome can smile, introduce herself, and ask a question. Over time, it starts feeling natural, and I never feel like I am faking anything.
- Own your imperfections. Guess what? Nobody’s perfect, not even your “successful” peers. Embrace your quirks, vulnerabilities, and your unique perspective. They make you relatable and authentic, which, in the world of infopreneurship, is worth more than any fabricated facade.
Recognizing and acknowledging your expertise is an ongoing process. By implementing small daily actions that focus on self-validation and self-compassion, you can begin to silence that fraudulent inner voice. Don’t let Impostor Syndrome sabotage all your hard work as an infopreneur.
And if you see me at the symposium, introduce yourself. We can share Impostor Syndrome stories.
Mary Ellen Bates has been an infopreneur since 1991. In addition to her business research and analysis services, she offers free strategic coaching to new and long-time solopreneurs. See more at BatesInfo.com or contact her at mbates@batesinfo.com or +1 303 772 7095.
