How To Manage Imposter Syndrome At Work

By Sophie Naylor

Have you experienced imposter syndrome at work?

There are many signs of imposter syndrome, and they will vary for each individual. Imposter syndrome at work is extremely common, so don’t feel guilty about feeling it! It’s a hard thing to overcome, but I have found some ways to effectively manage imposter syndrome at work so hopefully they help you guys too! If you are experiencing imposter syndrome at work, you may:

Feel that the work you do is not good enough and your colleagues are always doing better than you

Second guess every piece of work you create/every decision you make

Wonder why you ever got hired in the first place

Constantly worry that your manager will regret hiring you

Worry that your work is always wrong

Feel paranoid that your manager will ‘find out’ that you are ‘inexperienced’ and ‘bad’ at your job

The majority of the time this is purely anxiety and paranoia lying to you and you may feel deep down that these thoughts aren’t true, but it can be difficult to tell yourself that and truly believe it. Imposter syndrome can limit your progress at work and damage your self-esteem, so it’s super important to try to overcome imposter syndrome at work as quickly and effectively as you can.

Remember they hired you for a reason

Managers wouldn’t hire you if they didn’t think you were well suited to the role – that’s a fact. They will have taken an extended amount of time looking over your CV, job experience, hobbies etc and they must have liked your answers and your vibe during the interview to even consider hiring you. No employer hires an employee on a whim, it takes a lot of harsh decision making to be sure you’re the right candidate, so if they’ve chosen you then you definitely deserve to be there and you must have enough experience and transferable skills!

Get to the roots of your imposter syndrome at work

If you are constantly feeling that the work you produce isn’t good enough and your colleagues are better than you, it may be due to pre-existing low self-esteem. Anxiety can constantly put you down and make you feel less than you are, so it may be a good idea to tackle your anxiety and low self-esteem at the root before battling your imposter syndrome, as tackling one first will help you to tackle the other.

Acknowledge your achievements

How do you expect to effectively overcome imposter syndrome at work if you’re not willing to acknowledge your own achievements? Every time something good happens at work, it’s a good idea to write it down in a notebook so you can keep track of how well you’re doing. It’s also a great idea to reward your achievements at work, maybe by buying yourself something, taking yourself out for a coffee or simply just having a self care day and incorporating some ‘me-time’. If you want tips for a self care day, I have a blog post showing you guys my Autumn night time routine, which is super cosy and relaxing.

Fake it ’til you make it

This is honestly my number 1 tip. This is the only way I have managed to smash interviews, build my CV up, gain experience and build work connections with people. When I first started my blog, I had no idea what I was doing but I pretended I did. Acting experienced made my readers trust and develop a rapport with me, meaning I stated to feel as if I actually did know what I was doing. Now I love writing blog posts and I’m super passionate about it! If you act like you’re a badass bitch, you will eventually become a badass bitch. Just give it time.

Know your worth

Ultimately, your workplace need you as much as you need them. You are a valuable asset to the team and you need to recognise that. You will never be able to work to your full potential if you are constantly second-guessing your worth and your work. This will only hinder your success and you will become what you believe you are – as harsh as that sounds. You need to realise that you are important and your workplace is lucky to have you!