Imposter syndrome thrives on a cycle of self-critical thoughts, reflecting only our fears and insecurities. It tries to speak louder than our strengths and overshadows the things we know we are good at. To discredit it, we need to ground ourselves in the facts. We can use both internal and external evidence to directly disprove our imposter’s voice.
Bring to mind a thought your imposter often tells you about your work. Then, go through the list below and think about a direct example in your life that supports each point.
Internal:
- When you applied for the job, there was at least one spark inside you that said you could do it.
- You keep turning up: part of you believes in your abilities.
- If you didn’t think you could, you’d walk away.
- You have some, if not all, of the skills required.
- You have the ability to learn new skills.
- There are things that you have done well already.
- You have more knowledge and experience right now than you ever have before, and will continue to learn.
External:
- You have received positive feedback from various teams, peers and managers.
- You were chosen over other candidates; people believe in you to do the job.
- Wage rises and promotions are proof of your continued capability.
- Your performance reviews are more credible than your self-doubts. If you are meeting or exceeding expectations, that is indisputable.
A great technique to combat imposter syndrome is to catch and contradict the thoughts as they come.
“I’m not qualified enough.”
List your qualifications and experience. Challenge yourself to include the things that you may not consider applicable at first. For example, we often omit ‘soft’ skills like clear communication, empathy, dependability, etc.
“No one here likes me.”
List the times that people have interacted positively with you: a passing smile; words of encouragement or thanks; buying you a coffee; pausing work to help you. You stop noticing these things when the imposter takes over, but they continue to happen.
Imposter syndrome tries to discredit you and all you’ve achieved, but in reality, it’s rarely backed by evidence. It’s a habitual way of thinking, but every time you notice and contradict its lies with the facts, you build new neural pathways. With practise and repetition, you can make believing in yourself the brain’s default.