Impostor Syndrome at Work? How to Rise Above It

If you struggle with self-doubt or feel you do not deserve the authority you have, you likely are experiencing impostor syndrome. You might not want to lead a project or try for a promotion because you believe you lack the qualifications.

Imposter syndrome can cause you to doubt your abilities and hinder your career growth. Addressing these feelings helps you work through them and confidently advance your professional path.

The following steps can help you rise above impostor syndrome at work.

Acknowledge Your Feelings

Recognize how impostor syndrome makes you feel. Examples include:

• Persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud
• Attributing your success to luck or other external factors
• Downplaying your accomplishments

Talk with a Colleague

Discuss your feelings of impostor syndrome with a trusted colleague or coworker:

• Most people have feelings of impostor syndrome at some point in their career.
• Sharing your feelings helps demystify and destigmatize your experiences.
• Normalizing your experiences provides comfort.
• You can gain strategies for overcoming your feelings.

Document Your Achievements

Maintain a record of your accomplishments:

• Write down your education, skills, experience, commendations, and awards.
• Include quantifiable examples of your contributions, results, and organizational impact.
• Keep notes on completing challenging projects and reaching goals.
• Review your successes as a reminder of your competence.  

Reframe Your Thoughts

Replace your negative self-talk and irrational thinking patterns:

• Focus on facts to modify your thoughts.
• Remind yourself of the skills, experience, and achievements required to earn your position.
• Repeat positive affirmations about your abilities to stay grounded in reality.

Redefine Success

Modify what “success” means to you:

• Replace perfectionism with being “good enough.”
• Focus on your progress.
• Reframe your mistakes as learning opportunities.

Prioritize Professional Development

Continuously learning and applying knowledge reinforces your competence and boosts your confidence. Professional development opportunities include:

• Seminars
• Workshops
• Conference
• Online courses
• Professional certification
• Stretch assignments
• Cross-training

Celebrate Your Wins

Acknowledging small wins helps increase your confidence at work:

• Speak positively about yourself when someone congratulates you.
• Reflect on the effort you put into reaching your goals.
• Remind yourself you are a competent, high-functioning professional.
• Reward yourself with something meaningful.
• Strengthen your self-belief and motivation to continue advancing.

Focus on Career Growth

Mercer Bradley can help you capitalize on your skills, experience, and accomplishments to secure your next accounting and finance role in Winnipeg. Visit our job board to see which opportunities are available today!