FINAL WORD

Although many people may have heard of it and its effect on the individual and the workforce , before we look at tackling this phenomenon , let ’ s look at describing in detail what exactly it is and how it affects the person afflicted .

Family – Growing up , the family environment may have been overly critical or may have placed a high emphasis on achievement .

Social pressures – The pressure of other people expecting high achievements in order to gain approval can be very angst inducing .

Sense of belonging – Feelings that you may be excluded once you are ‘ found out ’ and then cast out from the group can make a person feel different in some way .

D . U . Sivri , Qualified Psychotherapist , Business Coach and Author

Imposter syndrome

Imposter syndrome is the persistent and nagging feeling that a person has , whereby they feel unable to believe that their successes are deserved or that they have been achieved legitimately as a result of their own efforts , hard work or skillsets .

For the individual , there will be feelings of anxiousness as they struggle to accept the feelings of success internally . Even if they are high performing individuals , they will struggle to deal with the feelings associated with being successful . These feelings then manifest themselves in the individual feeling like a fraud or like a phony as they doubt their abilities and achievements . Here is an example of the self-talk a person with imposter syndrome may have : “ I know I am not good enough , and any day now , my bosses will realise they have made a mistake in employing me . I ’ m sure they are already evaluating my performance levels and will probably talk to me about my abilities soon .”

Does this type of self-talk describe what you feel about yourself in the office or workplace ?

Unlike being humble though , these types of feelings can be extremely damaging because the feelings of anxiety can be extremely overwhelming and can severely affect a person ’ s career . Feelings of inadequacy mean that the person suffers with their levels of confidence and competence .

One reason people feel like this is because most high achievers get to a point where they feel that they can ’ t carry on . This might make them feel guilty or shameful in some way because they can ’ t perform / carry on as they used to . As a result , they tend to suffer in silence with this affliction .

Personality types – Some personalities may be predisposed to feeling this way . For example , if you are Introverted , or you tend to internalise things , then any perceived doubts , failures or pressures , will only bring out more negative feelings and questions regarding confidence and performance levels .

Here are some characteristics of imposter syndrome :

• Self-doubt

• Undervaluing your contributions

• Attributing successes to other / external factors

• Self-sabotaging any achievements and successes

• Setting unrealistic expectations

• Continual fear of not living up to expectations

• Feelings of emptiness and inadequacy

• Burnout

How to tackle imposter syndrome

You firstly need to understand that imposter syndrome is a form of ‘ saboteur thinking ’. It is self-destructive , but you are not helpless against it . Don ’ t try to ignore those feelings or push them away , so instead , control those emotions by acknowledging that they exist in you . Also be aware of the effect that these types of emotions have on your mind and body . One good technique to practice is the SBNRR Technique . This stands for Stop , Breathe , Notice , Reassess and Respond . This technique helps you to slow down and be more mindful as you consider your situation , your own thoughts , your feelings and your reactions . Here you get to stop , breathe calmly , notice your thoughts , reassess and evaluate your feelings and situation , and respond with intentional reactions .

Ten ways to tackle imposter syndrome

There are a number of reasons people may feel this way :

1 . Understand the self-talk – Understanding and then assessing your negative self-talk is

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