4 Ways to Battle the Impostor Syndrome

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Career on the rise? Worried that you’ll soon be exposed as a fraud? Here are 4 ways to battle the impostor syndrome.

Transcript of 4 Ways to Battle the Impostor Syndrome

4 Ways to Battle theImpostor Syndrome

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Kim MeningerExecutive Coach & Career StrategistKim@ExecutiveCareerSuccess.com

You’ve been asked to take on a new challenge.

You immediately feel excited and honored to be selected for the

opportunity.

But, anxiety quickly kicks in and feelings of self-doubt begin to

emerge.

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You tell yourself:

“I’m not qualified for this. At any moment,others will realize that I’m a fraud.”

What you’re experiencingis the impostor syndrome.

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Impostor Syndrome

The impostor syndrome is a social psychology term used to describe the sense that your

accomplishments or opportunities are unwarranted.

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“Symptoms” of Impostor Syndrome

If you’re an executive struggling with the impostor syndrome, you:• Feel like a fraud.• Believe you’ve deceived others about your

abilities.• Worry that you will soon be exposed.

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• Many executives struggle with the impostor syndrome at one time or another.

• It’s most common among high performers – those who actually are qualified to do the job.

• It can be useful, driving us to work harder and be more competitive in our roles.

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If the impostor syndrome is disruptive to you, here are four ways to battle it.

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1. Ensure that expectations are clear• Increased responsibility is exciting, but

also anxiety provoking.

• A great source of anxiety is lack of clarity about what’s expected of you.

• In any new situation, understand your executive team’s goals, expectations, and challenges.

• Ensure that you are armed with as much information as possible before getting started.

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2. Focus on Your Strengths• Most of us take our strengths and talents for

granted and focus on our weaknesses instead.

• When feeling insecure, take inventory of your strengths/accomplishments.

– What differentiates you from others?

• This will boost your confidence and de-emphasize areas where you’re not as strong.

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3. Leverage your resources.• You have a highly

powerful skill set, but you can’t do everything.

• When the pressure is on, it can be hard to give up control or delegate to others.

• To successfully achieve your goals, though, you’ll need a strong team.

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4. Seek External Feedback

• If you’re unsure about your performance, seek immediate feedback.

• Ask your leadership team and trusted colleagues for input.

• Regular feedback will help you identify and address issues early in the process.

• Positive feedback will increase your confidence.

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Experiencing Impostor Syndrome?• Recognize that this is a very

normal experience.

• Most highly successful executives have felt this way at some point during their careers.

• If you’re struggling, apply these four steps.

• And if you still need support, contact me for help with a personalized strategy.

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Get your complimentary copy of:5 Surefire Signs It’s Time to Change Your

Executive Career &

The Most Powerful Step You Can Take Today to Launch Your New Executive Career

Kim MeningerExecutive Coach & Career StrategistKim@ExecutiveCareerSuccess.com