Feeling like an Imposter? Great - Embrace it!

The only true imposters are the people who have no self-doubts.

We hear a lot about imposter syndrome these days, those nagging feelings of self-doubt despite objectively high levels of performance and a history of success. Typical of the psychology-industrial complex, such experiences are pathologized, associated with the consequences of systemic “isms” of all kinds and viewed as something we are encouraged to work to overcome and eliminate.

It’s time to change mindsets to appreciate imposter syndrome as a good thing. Of course, if you are objectively successful but plagued with debilitating self-doubt so severe that it disrupts your ability to perform or creates such high levels of anxiety that you cannot function, then yes, this is a bad thing. However, for most people, the tug that causes us to be slightly less self-assuredness should be viewed as a positive. I’m not alone in arguing for this: leadership expert Tomas Chomarro-Premuzic has even argued that managers should embrace it. A twinge of self-doubt keeps one open to self-reflection, assessment and constructive criticism, motivating opportunities for improvement.

The key to self-growth in any domain is to work in the learning zone, to push yourself toward your goals and success that move you past where you are. If reflection always yielded a response of “yep, things are great” then the motivation to improve would disappear. The knowledge that we might not be as good as others think we are is not only very likely true but also a useful push to keep putting in the work to keep ourselves moving forward. Imagine the arrogance associated with the self-belief that one had no room for improvement.

Importantly, self-doubt can co-exist with confidence. The relevant psychological concept here is self-efficacy: our belief that we have the ability to accomplish a desired goal if we put in the effort. When balanced with self-doubt, this confidence means we can recognize room for improvement while taking the steps to keep progressing.

Let’s briefly consider the response to a failure, whether it is not getting a desired outcome or being prevented from achieving what you thought was a desired goal. Although it may seem trite, it is important to remember that not getting what you want can sometimes be exactly what you need. Falling short can serve a wake-up call that you have more work to do or signal that this pursuit might not be where you should allot your talents. Which assessment is accurate is something no one else can tell you; you must determine that with some concerted and honest self-reflection.

In the face of set-backs, remind yourself that there are many different definitions of success and different paths to achieving the same goals - not all people with similar outcomes got there in the same way. The road forward is winding and the future unknown, but that doesn’t have to be viewed as a bad thing. A temporary defeat becomes true failure only if you stop and give up. If you keep moving, keep doing, you will push forward on the path. Use the pause of a set-back to reflect on whether you are working to get more of what you want. Take a moment to consider whether you are doing the things that will get you closer toward your goals - then get going!

People often say that everything in life happens for a reason, but instead consider that everything happens for a purpose. A reason is backward looking, focused on the past. A purpose is forward looking and focused on the future. The purpose of your past is to prepare you for the challenges of the future.

In sum, you should balance your inner imposter with your inner Jillian Michaels, the part of you that screams “you can!” and motivates you to put in the extra effort. Rely on your memory for having navigated past struggles to highlight your strength and you all you have accomplished to get to where you are. When the imposter looms large, call up the biggest challenge you’ve overcome and how you felt the midst of your struggle - then adjust back to the present to see how far you’ve come. Reflect on both these challenges and your strength. They co-existed in the past and continue to operate collectively in the present and future.

There will always be new challenges to face and figuring out what we need to do to confront and overcome them is an on-going part of living a fulfilling life. When you feel less than self-assured, reflect on why and take steps to address any short-coming. Remember, the only true imposter is the one who operates without any self-doubt.