Do you suffer from imposter syndrome, that nagging feeling of low self-doubt and fear that you’re not good enough at your job? If so, you’re not alone, as an exclusive new survey finds that almost one in three working adults say they often compare themselves to others and feel inferior at work.
The YouGov poll also showed that 30 per cent of us mentioned that harsh words from people in the past have damaged their confidence. Twenty-six per cent of working UK adults say that when praised for an achievement, they feel embarrassed and say their success is due to luck or outside factors at work.
According to YouGov, 22 per cent said they felt like a fake even though there is clear proof of their success. The survey showed that 67 per cent of women reported suffering from imposter syndrome at work in some way compared to 59 per cent of men. “Women are more open about their emotions but some men tend to put up a front and don’t like to admit weakness,” says Chris Farmer, 62, a personal and professional trainer and coach and founder of Corporate Coach Group Training.
But don’t think fame, success and wealth will cure this phenomenon, which is described as a feeling of “self-doubt about intellect, skills, or accomplishments among high-achieving individuals”, as celebrities who seem to have everything, including Michelle Obama, Adele and Tom Hanks have all wondered whether they deserve their success.
In fact, the survey found that the higher people rise, the worse imposter syndrome gets, with the ABC1 demographic – usually the highest achievers – saw 69 per cent suffering from some form of imposter syndrome in the survey of 2,000 adults across the UK.
“People suffering from imposter syndrome believe that their achievements are not deserved or that they are sometimes ‘fooling’ the people around them and are promoted above their abilities, despite evidence to the contrary,” says Chris. “They have this strong sense of self-doubt which weakens their confidence, disrupts their peace of mind and finally limits their ability to act according to their true abilities. “Even really talented and famous people have suffered from imposter syndrome. Elvis Presley is another example of someone with immense fame who struggled with feelings of inadequacy, once admitting: ‘I never felt I was good enough. I always felt I had to be better’.”
Ed Sheeran has also talked openly about questioning whether he truly deserves his success despite his fan base and achievements. And Tom Hanks says he feels like a “fraud” despite a long career, which has included winning two best actor Oscars. Meanwhile, Adele admitted she was terrified of agreeing to headline Glastonbury, saying, “Because I’ve got imposter syndrome”.
Chris says: “In each case these hugely famous people with the world at their feet felt out of place in the midst of their own success – this is classic imposter syndrome. The tendency to suffer from imposter syndrome stems from childhood. Every baby is born with a blank slate, a set of potential abilities waiting to be developed. As we grow, we form a self-concept – a belief about who we are, what we can do and where we belong.
“This self-concept is influenced by many sources including parents, siblings, family members, teachers, schooling, early successes and early failures. If parents or teachers criticise us as children then that may easily affect our developing self-concept. Early failures leave their mark and cause us to believe we ‘don’t have what it takes’.
“Even if our success reflects real skill and effort, our subconscious mind reacts with discomfort, as if we do not deserve it. We feel as though our achievements do not match our true self which feeds a painful cycle of self-doubt and confusion. Telling people with imposter syndrome that they are capable doesn’t work because their poor self-concept prevents them from believing it.”
HOW YOUR HAND CAN HELP YOU HEAL
Chris Farmer reveals the therapist-approved method that will stop insecurity in its tracks
The solution to imposter syndrome is to go to the root of the problem using a method called ‘emotional anchoring’. This method helps us shift from feelings of doubt to a mindset focused on solving problems. There are five parts to this process and you can use each finger on one hand to represent a different part. This method of using our hand to direct our thoughts and feelings toward a rational mindset allows us to address imposter syndrome at its source.
1. Thumb: Event : Every situation we face begins with an event such as a task, an interaction or a new experience.
2. Index Finger: Meaning : After the event, we assign it meaning. This meaning is where we make a choice – do we interpret it as proof of our self-doubt or as something neutral?
3. Middle Finger: Pain : This finger represents pain, the familiar path where our self-doubt and fears come to the surface, confirming our feelings of inadequacy.
4. Ring Finger: Puzzle to Solve : The ring finger represents a choice to see the event as a puzzle to solve, not a personal threat.
5. Little Finger: Feelings : This finger shows the feelings that result from our choice.
When we face an event, the first step is to recognise it and assign meaning. This moment is our point of decision, where we choose how to interpret the event. We can let it confirm our doubts or we can choose to view it as a puzzle to solve. By choosing the puzzle, we engage our rational mind, which shifts us away from the cycle of self-doubt. This approach lets us see the event as an opportunity to think and problem-solve rather than seeing it as a threat to our self-worth.
To make this shift in focus, we use a physical anchor. When self-doubt begins to take over, we press our thumb against the middle finger to acknowledge the painful path we know so well. Then, we move our thumb to the ring finger, which serves as a reminder to focus on solving the puzzle.
This means asking yourself questions such as: What is my best outcome in this situation? What past success can I draw on? What facts do I know that can help me? Who can help and what physical resources do I need to draw on to help – people, money or technology?
With regular practice, this anchoring method helps to weaken the power of imposter syndrome as the negative feelings are slowly starved of energy. Over time, by choosing to see events as puzzles rather than threats, imposter syndrome loses its grip. After a few months, this approach helps us to feel more comfortable with our true abilities.
As we practise, our self-concept begins to shift, gradually aligning with our real knowledge and abilities. This new self-concept becomes our natural way of seeing ourselves, allowing us to experience confidence and satisfaction in our achievements. When we consistently choose to view each situation as a puzzle , our rational mind becomes stronger, while the influence of imposter syndrome gradually fades.
To join Chris’s course, Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, visit corporatecoachgroup.com
‘Now I know that I’m good enough’
Emma Cantrill, 55, is the founder of the PR firm, Intelligent Profile. She lives in Tonbridge, Kent, with her husband and their three children. She says:
“I discovered that I was suffering from imposter syndrome in my 30s, when I had some business coaching and my coach said I wasn’t reaching my full potential. I’d always done okay but there was just something holding me back. I suffered some family bereavement and it was then that I started to unpick my life and the underlying feeling that I wasn’t good enough. I realised that my feeling of inadequacy went all the way back to my childhood.
I had an unsupportive teacher who constantly told me I wasn’t good enough and that I’d never amount to much. I had taken some time out between school and university and worked in a shoe shop in Harrogate, when that teacher came in. I hid in the store room because I didn’t want her to see me in the shop and be proved right.
After having some counselling, and as my children got older, I started to think that what I did for a living was really cool. That feeling finally gave me the jolt I needed to go and set up my own company. I was approached by a leading food brand to do their PR and then many more followed. I now have a great list of clients including Heck! Food and Belvoir Farm and I’ve worked with many household names. I admit there’s still that little gargoyle on my shoulder at times but today I know that I am good enough and that I do have good talents that I embrace rather than run away from.”
