Imposter Syndrome = Superpower
I remember the first time I attempted to learn to code. It was the first year at university, our course instructor was going through the…
I remember the first time I attempted to learn to code. It was the first year at university, our course instructor was going through the material at a very fast pace. Every week, unlike my course mates, I just did not get it. Despite gaining admission to study Engineering at one of the best universities in the world, I felt like a fraud.
Fast forward to 2016, I am dating a software developer (which means she can really code). I am in the company of her colleagues from Andela. They are chatting about their work: coding and learning the latest languages and tools. They make it sound so effortless. At the time I had started to learn to code again. I asked one of them how long will it take me to get to a level that I can get a job with this new skill: 6months full time at 6hrs/day. It felt hopeless.
Imposter Syndrome is a feeling of inadequacy and self-doubt. Have you ever felt like you don’t belong? Like your colleagues are going to discover you’re a fraud, and you don’t actually deserve your job and accomplishment? That it was probably down to luck or a fluke, and soon you will be found out. These feelings are known as imposter syndrome, and we experience them everywhere: at work, with friends, and within our relationships.
They are particularly prevalent with “Perfectionists” and “Experts”. This feeling holds us back from that next step: applying for that job, stepping up to a new project, and starting a business.
We must always remember that:
Other people have felt the same way as well.
No amount of success would make it go away.
6 Ways to activate your new Superpower: Imposter Syndrome
1. Recognize imposter feelings when they show up — Acknowledge and evaluate the thought. Ask yourself ‘Does this thought help or hinder me?’
2. Reframe the thought — Instead of saying to yourself they are going to find you out, or you don’t deserve the opportunity, remind yourself that this is an opportunity to learn something new
3. Conquer doubt with action — despite the feelings of doubt and inadequacy, just do it. That thing that seems beyond you, take action towards it. As you act, your experience and confidence will improve.
4. Ask for advice/ Speak to someone you can trust- you will discover that others feel the same way too.
5. Use the Cookie Jar — The Cookie Jar is a concept of somewhere (mentally) we put all our past failures and successes that we overcame. In times of crises, we reach into our cookie jar and remind ourselves how good we really are. If we overcame before, we could do it again.
6. Reframe failure as a learning opportunity for the future
7. BONUS (for the Perfectionists) Be kind to yourself. I repeat: Be kind to yourself. Everyone makes mistakes. Learn from it, forgive yourself, and move on.
Despite my past experiences learning to code, I worked at it again, and again and before I knew it, I could code, and I have applied this knowledge to successfully develop digital products.
Interestingly, I signed up for a Design Bootcamp this weekend. At the first session earlier today, as everyone introduced themselves and talked about their many years of experience, I felt my old friend ’Imposter Syndrome’ tap my shoulder.
But unlike before, I welcomed him with open hands, knowing that despite my doubts, at the end of this weekend I would have learnt something new.