Combating Imposter Syndrome

After a turbulent year, it’s hard not to feel lost or deflated. One manifestation we are seeing is imposter syndrome, a common condition found in many high achievers, including creative types, senior leaders, entrepreneurs, business owners and more. Those suffering from imposter syndrome, left unchecked can suffer the most, as the problem can bury a person and their business deep in the ground.

In the same way that mental well-being is a systematic process, no entrepreneur can overcome this condition overnight. The good news is that, with some support and guidance, you can defeat it and prevent it from affecting your mental health and business in the future.

Imposter syndrome implies to business owners that they cannot perform certain tasks or that they aren’t good enough – this can be hard to overcome when deeply rooted, and more importantly, it can impact our self-esteem and negatively affect our mental health. To confront it, it’s critical to follow up those thoughts with reassuring phrases and encouraging prompts as well as being accepting of our flaws. A little self-love goes a long way!

Positivity, asking for help, changing the rules – these are all things that can help. Even spending more time visualising success can do a lot of good for someone lacking confidence in themselves and their leadership skills.

Tip #1 – Face It | Entrepreneurs have to face it and engage it head-on.

Tip #2 – Separate Feelings from Facts | Getting a bad feeling or becoming upset after making a mistake shouldn’t make you feel inadequate. Take a moment to learn from the experience. Life is a lesson.

Tip #3 – Change the Rules | While it’s important to set boundaries, it’s just as important to guide your business decisions by attainable standards and allow for some breathing room.

Tip #4 – Visualise Success | Highly successful people often picture themselves winning. It’s also a technique that helps relieve performance anxiety and stress.

Tip #5 – Change Your Default Response | Entrepreneurs who suffer from imposter syndrome often respond negatively to mistakes and failures. Any mistake triggers their negative reactions and a defeatist attitude. It’s crucial to change that response into something healthier.

Positivity allows for a positive mindset. By doing this, you will be motivated and encouraged rather than seeing a challenging experience as a setback.

Setting rules is important, but you should also guide your business decisions by attainable standards and leave some breathing room. This applies even to those in leadership positions. These techniques will help you cope with performance anxiety and stress.