10 Signs you could be Suffering with Imposter Syndrome

You have a great job, maybe your leading a team or a whole company, you’ve worked towards this for a long time.  You are qualified, capable and those around you have complete faith in you…

…so why is it that you are terrified of every presentation you make to your company?  You find yourself not speaking up in case you sound like you don’t know what you are talking about…your sleep is suffering, you are snappy and irritable from working longer hours than necessary and you never feel satisfied with your performance.

You are likely to be suffering with Imposter Syndrome.  It’s a real syndrome.  It can be debilitating, and research suggests that as many as 70% of us will suffer it in our careers at some point.

Human nature is such that we hate the feeling of failure.  Many of us need that reassurance from, not only our line managers, but from our team members too and anyone else who can tell us we are on the right track and doing a great job.  So how do you know if it is Imposter Syndrome? 

As a leadership and career coach, imposter syndrome is something which pops up all too regularly. Here are the 10 symptoms to look out for, you may not have them all, but even a few can make a difference to your mental health at work:

1.     You lack confidence.

You feel out of your depth all the time wondering why you have been given the role you have and feeling like you just aren’t good enough to carry it off.

2.     You feel like you will be found out.

That lack of confidence leads to a feeling that other people can see through you and also think you shouldn’t have the role that you have.  You fear your managers regretting their decision and wishing you hadn’t stepped up and you may even be considering leaving the job before anyone ask you to.

3.     You hold back on contributing in meetings.

Based on a fear of sounding stupid or getting something wrong, you are likely to stay quiet.  This can be compounded if you feel your team members, your subordinates, sound like they make better points and contributions than you feel you could. 

4.     You struggle to internalise success.

Even when you do a task really well and receive good feedback, you are unable to really believe it or take anything from it.  You are constantly self-critical.

5.     You overwork.

You feel you have to prove your worth to your leader, to your team, and to yourself so you constantly take on more work, or struggle to delegate, always feeling like you have to be seen to be the person to do it, you work longer hours and eventually this can lead to burn out.

6.     You struggle under pressure.

Day to day duties such as presenting in a meeting, closing a big deal or having a difficult conversation with a colleague can send you into a spiral, keep you up at night and can even lead to you underperforming because of the stress.

7.     You are a perfectionist.

You constantly check and then double check and change and check your work but are rarely or never satisfied that it is good enough.

8.     You downplay your skills and achievements.

You could struggle to remember the skills that got you to where you are, or you avoid talking about yourself and what you have achieved in the past for fear that it won’t be good enough or people have more skills or achievements than you.  You constantly compare yourself with others.

9.     You seek constant feedback.

Most people need a little praise or validation now and again, but you could be taking this to the next level, constantly seeking approval on decisions before you action anything, or seeking praise in order to feel safe.  However, this rarely makes a difference and can fall on deaf ears even when it’s constantly offered.

10.  You are a people pleaser.

This could hold you back on taking initiative or the lead in something.  You are unlikely to make any moves in the role without approval, instead waiting for suggestions from others as to what to do next.

Suffering with Imposter Syndrome with any, or all, of these symptoms can lead to insomnia, depression or anxiety so it’s important to check in with yourself to identify concerning behaviours and look to do something about it.

As a career and leadership coach, many of the clients I have seen over the years have come to me with some, or all, of these concerns, or I have also been approached by leaders or HR representatives on behalf of a staff member that they see suffering and want to help.  It can be incredibly draining for a leader of a person with imposter syndrome, constantly having to reassure and guide them especially when they see the potential that that person has.

Remember, you are not alone, and there is help. 

I can offer coaching where we work together to help you find the confidence to stop the internal battle with yourself and find your wings.  Every client is an individual so we would work together on a bespoke plan.  Your past could have secrets that have led you to fester on these beliefs.  Family dynamics, school, past roles.  It’s not a permanent condition and with the right guidance you can come out the other side with a whole new strength of mind and confidence in yourself.

If you feel like you may be struggling with imposter syndrome, I’d like to help you.  You may have one or two symptoms or you may feel like you are drowning, either way, let’s talk. I’m Clare Harris, I own Fortem Coaching where I offer 1 to 1 career and leadership coaching to help you find the confidence to believe in yourself and fly in your career and life.  Book now for a FREE 30-minute consultation.