Overcoming “Imposter Syndrome”

By Eric Twining

Have you ever stood in front of a group of professionals and felt out of place or under qualified? Do you have years of experience in a specific field and suddenly lose confidence in your abilities? It’s quite possible that you’re experiencing the phenomenon known as “imposter syndrome.”

Gabe Duverge of Touro University defines imposter syndrome as: “A collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist even in the face of information to the contrary. People with imposter feelings experience chronic self-doubt and feel like an intellectual fraud.”[1] Feelings of self-doubt are not exclusive to one particular workplace or career path. In fact, according to one report, as many as 87% of adults have suffered from this type of inferiority complex.[2]

This is where my personal experience begins.

I served over 24 years of active duty service with the United States Navy. When it came time to retire, I was at the top of my game (as most are when they serve for decades). During my final 3-year tour, I focused on empowering young Sailors to meet their goals, while exceeding each mission they were charged to complete. Leading Sailors through complex training and missions across the globe isn’t easy. Every leader, whether in government or corporate life, hones their style of inspiring others to be better than they were the day before, while moving forward the organization. I found my way as a leader, as many have, through adversity and human connection. But that isn’t enough. Leaders must also facilitate “wins” for individuals and teams to help them build their confidence enough to fully believe in themselves and one another. As I stepped away from active duty after 24 years, I had become very proficient in this skill.

Through the Hiring Our Heroes program, Rockwood recognized my value and provided me an opportunity to translate my experience and continue to serve others in professional settings that I hadn’t yet experienced. Rockwood acknowledged the skills and abilities that I brought to the table and provided me with opportunities to excel. However, during my professional “transition” from active duty to civilian life, I found myself sometimes struggling with feelings of inadequacy. Rockwood employs incredibly smart and capable consultants and, frankly, that can be intimidating when you are “the new guy”—a position I hadn’t held in over 20 years.

Realizing that what I was experiencing was both normal and something that I needed to resolve, I felt comfortable enough to discuss my experience with several colleagues. They listened intently and responded in a way that recalibrated my internal confidence. While there may be other ways to overcome imposter syndrome, verbalizing my concerns and being open to coaching from the Rockwood team was key to my success. Coaching doesn’t have to be intricate; it can be very direct and simple. The best advice I received from a Rockwood colleague was, “You’re here because you’re supposed to be here.” Once I heard that from someone who wasn’t looking at a rank on a military uniform, my confidence returned immediately. Reflecting on that conversation over a weekend spent with those I care about most grounded me and returned my confidence back to where it was pre-separation. That conversation literally changed my trajectory in life.

Research shows that imposter syndrome can harm the trajectory of our careers by undermining our career development.[3] Based on my own experience, I encourage you to commit to the following steps if you think you are experiencing imposter syndrome. You are worth the effort.

1.

Recognize that what you are feeling is imposter syndrome.

Understanding that these feelings of self-doubt are actually imposter syndrome is a critical first step to overcoming them. As my colleague reminded me, your organization hired you for a reason; you are where you are supposed to be.

2.

Realize that what you are feeling is common.

Most adults have experienced this same phenomenon at some point. Many high achievers (including famous ones like Maya Angelou and Natalie Portman) admit to having felt out of their depth at times despite obvious signs of success.

3.

Reach out to a trusted colleague(s) early in the process.

Verbalize your concerns to coworkers you feel comfortable confiding in. Considering the majority of individuals in the professional realm have likely experienced this phenomenon, your colleagues may be able to offer you guidance or tools that they themselves found helpful for overcoming this temporary hurdle.

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Reference:

Brevata, S., Watts, S., Keefer, A., Madhusudhan, D., Taylor, K., Clark, D., Nelson, R., Cokley, K., Hagg, H.

(April 2020). National Library of Medicine. Prevalence, Predictors, and Treatment of Impostor Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

Footnotes: 

[1] Duverge, G. (September 2015). Touro University. How To Beat Imposter Syndrome: The Silent Career

Killer. Retrieved from: https://www.tuw.edu/psychology/imposter-syndrome/

[2] Jimenez, R. (January 2021). KSAT Reporting. Research shows 70% of people may suffer from imposter

syndrome. Retrieved from: https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2021/01/09/research-shows-70-of-people-may-suffer-from-imposter-syndrome/

[3] Neureiter, M., & Traut-Mattausch, E. (2016). Inspecting the dangers of feeling like a fake: An empirical investigation of the impostor phenomenon in the world of work. Frontiers in psychology, 7.