A number of high-profile names have been talking about their struggles with Imposter Syndrome recently – Helena Bonham Carter and Jamie Demetriou come to mind – which I have to admit, I’ve found frustrating.
Whilst it can be validating to hear celebrities speaking out about their inner struggles (“They’re just like me!”), does the fact that they have achieved high-level success despite having Imposter Syndrome invalidate our own struggles?
Obviously we can’t know to what extent they’re really challenged by it, but I would say that their continued success means that it’s not holding them back to the extent that I see in some of my clients.
I work with people whose Imposter Syndrome shows up in two ways: firstly, people who have high aspirations and want to go further, but part of them worries that they can’t do it, or they’re not good enough, so they don’t put themselves forward. The ones that do put themselves out there can find that it comes at a great cost – they’re wrecked by the stress it causes.
The other way it shows up is in people who’ve achieved great things – maybe they’ve just been promoted or they’re working as a director or senior leader – but they’re beset by the constant worry that they’re about to be found out, or that they don’t really belong in that position. This can cause huge amounts of self-doubt, stress, anxiety, sleeplessness, procrastination and self-sabotage. One of the saddest aspects, to my mind, is that it stops them enjoying their work, and the success they’ve worked so hard to achieve.
If this sounds like you, you’ve probably tried several coping strategies that haven’t worked, so it’s time to try a different approach. If you’d some advice that isn’t simply ‘Push through the fear and do it anyway!’, book a free consultation with me, using the link below. It’s a 45-minute one-to-one call where we get really clear on where you want to go, and the roadmap you need to get you there.
Remember, your feelings are valid no matter who else may be suffering from similar issues. Don’t let someone else diminish your feelings – but instead take the steps to do something about it!
