What to do about imposter syndrome

Culture · 9 févr. 2023

I have had my fair share of imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is a feeling of inadequacy or self-doubt, despite evidence of success. It can be debilitating and can hold us back from reaching our full potential.

Here are some tips that have helped me to effectively overcome imposter syndrome:

  1. Recognize that it's normal: Imposter syndrome is a common experience for many people, particularly in high-pressure fields. Recognizing that it's normal and that others feel the same way can help you to put it in perspective.

  2. Reframe your thoughts: Instead of focusing on your failures or shortcomings, focus on your successes and accomplishments. Remember that you were hired for your skills and experience, and that you have valuable contributions to make.

  3. Ask for feedback: Seek out feedback from your colleagues, managers, and mentors. This will give you a better understanding of your strengths and areas for improvement, and help you to see yourself more objectively.

  4. Connect with others: Reach out to others who have experienced imposter syndrome, and share your experiences. It can be comforting to know that you're not alone and that others have found ways to overcome it.

  5. Keep learning: Continuing to learn and develop your skills will help you to stay up-to-date in the field and give you more confidence in your abilities.

  6. Be kind to yourself: Be kind and compassionate to yourself, remember that everyone makes mistakes and you are not alone in feeling this way.

    Imposter syndrome can be a challenging experience, but it's not something that we have to live with. By recognizing that it's normal, reframing our thoughts, seeking feedback, connecting with others, and keeping learning, we can overcome it.

    Adopt a growth mindset and remember that the most successful people have felt the same way and have overcome it.

    Special shoutout to my colleague and friend, Diana Hu for often reminding me of this early on when I was onboarding to the TELUS Digital team. Re-learning brand new tools, systems, processes and all the crazy new acronyms (you know the ones!) all at once can humble you fast and make you feel like the world's biggest imposter. But just remember... it's a fleeting emotion that can be overcome with a little bit of self-confidence.

    Anyone else sometimes feel like an imposter?

Auteur:
An Asian man wearing glasses in side profile
Dan Lam
Senior Product Manager
A Product Manager by day and a dog manager by night--Dan usually spends his day building out rich new experiences on the My TELUS app, and then caps off his evenings with a good movie alongside his 4 dogs, Kipz, Bear, Hunter, and Wolf.