It’s time to call Ghostbusters…
Imposter syndrome feels like a modern-day buzzword, but it’s actually existed since the beginning of…humans! It’s a ghoulish, debilitating phenomenon- the inability to believe that one’s success isn’t deserved or achieved legitimately. This feeling can haunt your career, making you feel fraudulent and ultimately sabotage your achievements.
People struggling with imposter syndrome often attribute their accomplishments to luck rather than ability and worry that eventually, they will be unmasked as the fraud they really are.
You aren’t alone
Regardless of how successful you are in your career, there will be times when you don’t feel good enough because imposter syndrome is found across every gender, race, age and industry.
But, I promise you aren’t the only one! During her talk at brightonSEO, Amy McManus asked the audience to each turn to the person next to them and tell them about a time they felt like a fraud at work. The room erupted and not because ‘audience participation’ are the two scariest words a conference speaker can say!
Feeling creepy yet? Find out more about Amy McManus’ talk and how imposter syndrome can be combatted in our special Halloween video below…
Self-doubt can hit anyone and some of the most intelligent, hardworking and successful people in the world talk about their own experiences of imposter syndrome from Tom Hanks and Albert Einstein to Emma Watson.
BBC Documentary Maker, Louis Theroux recently told HR Grapevine that while writing his new book he ‘focused on the challenges, things I found difficult: professional failures and worries, feeling I’m not up to it, I’m in over my head.’ And Maya Angelou famously said: ‘I have written 11 books, but each time I think, uh oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.’
7 ways to defeat imposter syndrome
- Value your achievements by collecting a list of positive memories or triumphs to look back on
- Avoid comparing yourself to others
- Find a mentor to help you navigate the industry
- Talk to people, they’re likely to be feeling the same as you
- Attend industry events or join in with conversation on social media
- Take risks, if you wait until you feel confident you might never achieve your goals
- Accept that you don’t know all the answers
Get yourself out there
If you’re looking to gain some extra confidence in your digital marketing career, there will be events to attend or speak at in your local area. These include Women in Tech SEO, Kirsty Hulse’s confidence training and countless conferences and meet-ups in your discipline, every city will have their own version.
Attending these events, no matter the size will allow you to meet people with similar worries as you. It’s also becoming more common for events to host talks on wellbeing and overcoming imposter syndrome, so you’ll be sure to hear about it somewhere!
Remember, a problem shared is a problem halved.
If you’re looking for support in your job search, get in touch by emailing Natasha on natasha@clockworkTalent.com. You can also find like-minded peers and join in with conversation over on our Facebook group.
Looking for more spooky blogs? Find them here:
👻 Job Interview Horror Stories
👻 The 7 Deadly Sins Of Digital Marketing
👻 Tricks And Treats Of Digital Marketing Recruitment
