Does fear hold you back from making changes in your role or moving to a new one? Maybe the fear of getting out of your comfort zone stops you? Are you worried about changing your career as you feel ‘other people’ are more qualified than you are? Maybe you don’t feel ready yet? Perhaps a bit of imposter syndrome is taking over? Imposter syndrome can sometimes get in the way of us taking that step.
What is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter Syndrome often manifests itself when you don’t believe you deserve your success or you feel you don’t have the skills to do what you are doing. Instead you believe you are there through luck and start waiting to be “found out”.
I first really noticed my own experience of Imposter syndrome over ten years ago when I started my first role managing an HR team and for the first 6 months I was waiting for someone to “find me out”, I felt I shouldn’t have been hired. I didn’t lie in my interview, I was open and honest about my experience; but it was a step up and being out of my comfort zone was tough for those first few months. Thankfully I got through the uncomfortable feeling and I was there for five and a half years.
These are my top 3 ways to stop imposter syndrome halting your plans to change career:
- Remind yourself this isn’t a permanent feeling:
This may be something that you are currently feeling but it doesn’t mean it is who you are or that it’s a permanent feeling. Think of other achievements you have made to remind yourself of your skills, abilities and successes which will invaluable in supporting you with that career change or promotion.
- Remember the fear is often about being out of your comfort zone:
The more you do what you are afraid of the more accomplished you will become and therefore more confident and comfortable doing it. As a result it becomes part of your growing comfort zone rather than outside of it.
- Remember you are not alone in feeling this
Imposter syndrome may feel like something that no-one will understand but it’s surprising how many people experience it. This can be helpful to share how you are feeling with others. On top of which talking about how you feel rather than holding this in often helps you to feel better about it and see things from a different perspective. Who can you share your experience and feelings with?
Here are some famous people who have also experienced Imposter Syndrome:
Meryl Streep – ‘You think, “why would anyone want to see me again in a movie? And I don’t know how to act anyway, so why am I doing this?”’
Natalie Portman – ‘When I got into Harvard just after the release of Star Wars: Episode 1, I feared people would assume I had gotten in just for being famous, and not worthy of the intellectual rigour here.’
Sheryl Sandberg – ‘There are still days when I wake up feeling like a fraud, not sure I should be where I am?’
It’s a good reminder that no matter how successful someone can be we can all still experience imposter syndrome. The important thing is to find a way to move through it.
Getting support through your career change:
If you are looking to make changes in your career but Imposter Syndrome is holding you back Contact Me to arrange a free discovery call to find out if my Cracking Career Change Programme or any elements of it is a good fit for you to gain clarity and inspiration to put together a plan to move forward onto your new career path.
The information contained above is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this blog are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this blog. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this blog. Claire Bolsover disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this blog.