Imposter Syndrome: Taming the Success-Eating Monster

Ten simple ways to control the beast and feel empowered again.
By Stephanie Kusibab

If you are an entrepreneur, you’ve probably heard of imposter syndrome. It’s that feeling of insecurity and self-doubt that eats away at you just as you are about to take a step forward. It’s the moment you ask yourself: “Who do I think I am? What makes me think I’m qualified to do this?!” This insidious feeling of self-doubt sabotages your success.

Every entrepreneur feels it at some point; some more than others. Imposter syndrome is particularly common among high achievers, women and people of color. And it can be especially crushing for introverts and those who are spending more and more time isolated from others in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are lots of psychological theories for why this happens. It may be caused by certain personality traits, family dynamics, our culture, or some combination of the above. But, understanding why it happens is less important than figuring out what to do about it.

In my personal experience and through my coaching practice, I’ve found the following to be effective ways to shake that feeling of inferiority and jump back in to advancing your passion. I hope you find some of these strategies helpful for taming your own success-eating monster.

1. Get back in touch with what brought you here.
Think about why you started this business/practice/project in the first place. What was appealing about it? What was the catalyst that caused you to take that first step? Why is this important to you – is it the lifestyle it enables, the mission you are pursuing, the impact you want to make? Remembering your passion can jumpstart the excitement which can propel you forward.

2. Check your physical state.
Make sure you are taking care of yourself physically to ensure you have the energy to pursue your passion. Is your mental state being negatively impacted by your physical state? Are you feeling stressed? Are you eating well and getting enough sleep? Knowing that your mental state is the cause makes it easier to see that your fear is less about who you are and more about what you are (not) doing.

3. Reconnect with people who care about you.
In today’s environment, it’s really easy to get disconnected from other humans. Are you spending too much time alone? Are you getting caught up in your thoughts, spending too much time ‘in your head’? When is the last time you connected with family and friends? What was the last non-work related conversation you had with a colleague? We need human connection to stay mentally healthy and right now that may take more intentional actions.

4. Connect with other entrepreneurs.
Developing a product or service and starting a business is not easy and poses unique challenges. Is there anyone else in your network taking on these same challenges? When is the last time you made a new business connection? How are you growing your network to learn from others in and beyond your industry/profession? Simply being able to commiserate with others and share notes on challenges can be cathartic. Sharing your experience with others can be extremely empowering. Join a networking group or attend a networking event and make a point of having real conversations.

5. Get a broader perspective.
Changing your view by focusing on something else for a short time can change your perspective and bring new clarity. What is the last thing you learned for no reason whatsoever? When is the last time you read a book? When is the last time you tried something completely new? What topics, outside of work, interest you? Pursuing something completely outside of your norm creates new neural pathways and opens up creative thinking. Make a point of continuing to learn and grow beyond your business and you will be surprised at how your newfound perspectives will inspire your business thinking.

6. Spend time with nature.
I know, this one sounds really touchy-feely, and we’re not all big nature lovers. But, there truly is a huge body of work that says nature has a calming and centering effect in every culture around the world. When was the last time you left your house? (Not such an odd question in 2020-2021.) Can you take a walk, or roll around the block or to a local park or nature preserve? Do you have anything in your work space that brings nature indoors – a plant, a picture, a window? Take a few minutes to appreciate the natural world. Look up from your work, enjoy the sights and sounds around you, and you will be amazed at how refreshed and reinvigorated you will feel.

7. Talk to colleagues, clients and customers.
Check in with those you’ve impacted. See how they are doing and how they have grown since your last interaction. How have you positively impacted their work and their lives? What have you taught them? What have you learned from them? How have you worked together to make an impact? There is nothing more empowering than remembering the positive impact you have had on others.

8. Re-read your resume, bio or CV with a positive eye. Sometimes we just need to be reminded of how far we’ve come and all we’ve accomplished. What was the hardest thing you’ve ever done? What was the biggest impact you ever had? What obstacles have you overcome? How many people are better off because of the work you’ve done? Remembering all we have accomplished reminds us that we are not imposters and that we do have something important to offer to the world.

9. Consider the alternatives.
If all else fails, kick yourself in the behind. Consider the alternatives. If you don’t keep going on this path, what then? Will you quit? Will you go back to a full time job? Will your client hire someone else to do what you could do better? Ultimately, you have the choice to pick yourself up and move forward or change your path. It is up to you. Consider the alternatives and choose the direction that makes you feel most empowered and alive. Your positive energy can make it happen.

10. Do what makes you happiest.
In the end, it’s up to you to make a choice that is based on positivity and strength, not fear and falsehoods. Trust yourself.

Stephanie is VP of Business Strategy for Savvyeur and CEO of Essentiam. Stephanie is passionate about generative conversations that lead to professional and organizational clarity.

Let’s start a conversation: skusibab@savvyeur.com