19 Best Tips: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Now

What causes impostor syndrome

Impostor syndrome can affect anyone, regardless of age, background, social status or intellect.

It is a psychological condition where people often feel like a fraud, doubting their achievements and always believing they will be discovered as a fraud, despite evidence of their abilities.

Impostor syndrome is often caused by factors, including personality traits, social pressures, and environmental influences.

If you are someone with high perfectionist values, you may set unattainable standards. This can lead you to feeling inadequate when those expectations you have set can’t be met.

There can be other factors, such as the validation of peers, friends, family or society in general, especially in the social media age we live in. This can heighten feelings of self-doubt when you are successful.

Culture and working environments can also contribute to impostor syndrome, such as the stigma around failure and competitive situations.

These individual experiences can appear as a persistent fear of being exposed as a "fraud," despite evidence of competence and accomplishments.

What are the 5 types of impostor syndrome?

Impostor syndrome can manifest in 5 distinct types, with each type having distinct characteristics. Understanding these types can be crucial in addressing and overcoming impostor syndrome.

1. The Perfectionist type of impostor syndrome sets impossibly high standards; nothing short of perfection is acceptable.

2. The Expert feels they need to know everything before proceeding with a task; if they don’t, they feel inadequate.

3. The Natural Genius believes competence should come easily without effort; if it doesn’t, they will feel like a fraud and will avoid further challenges.

4. The Soloist refuses help to prove their worth. They believe asking for help is a sign of weakness.

5. The Superwoman/Superman overworks to mask perceived inadequacies; they often feel inadequate despite their accomplishments.

Does imposter syndrome go away?

Although imposter syndrome may not go away for everyone, it can, in time, diminish when you become aware and implement proactive strategies.

If you suffer from impostor syndrome, you may suffer from intermittent feelings when you are facing new challenges or situations.

However, by recognising these thoughts as common and working to reframe them, one can gradually build self-confidence and reduce their impact.

Seeking support through coaching, mentorship, or peer groups can also provide valuable perspectives, helping to normalise these feelings and empower individuals to embrace their accomplishments and capabilities.

As psychologist Dr. Jessamy Hibberd explains, "With awareness and the right strategies, you can learn to manage these feelings so they don't hold you back from pursuing opportunities."

Ultimately, while impostor syndrome may linger, its influence can be managed, allowing individuals to pursue their goals with greater assurance and clarity.

19 Best Tips

1. Discover the facts of why you deserve to be in your role

In order to overcome Impostor syndrome, you need to recognise why you deserve to be in your role. First, consider the qualifications, skills, and experiences that brought you to this point—each accomplishment underscores your capability.

Reflect on positive feedback from colleagues, mentors, or clients; their observations validate your strengths and contributions. Additionally, remind yourself that everyone makes mistakes and faces challenges, which is part of the growth process.

Embracing your unique perspective adds value to your role, showing that your presence is not only warranted but necessary.

By acknowledging these facts, you can gradually build the confidence needed to silence self-doubt and fully embrace your achievements.

2. Ask yourself, “Why am I doing what I do?” to solidify your purpose.

Connecting with your core values creates resilience against impostor feelings. Reflecting on the impact of your work on others can provide powerful motivation. Understanding your intrinsic motivations helps maintain perspective during challenges.

Your unique journey to your current role often reveals important aspects of your purpose.

Clarifying your purpose helps distinguish between productive striving and perfectionism driven by fear.

Reconnecting with your "why" during difficult periods transforms imposter syndrome from a barrier into a signpost for growth. Take some time to work through your core values and beliefs, and it can help to give you a new perspective on how you view yourself.

3. Practice positive self-talk

Replace self-critical thoughts with more balanced perspectives. Create personalised affirmations that address your specific insecurities. Monitor your internal dialogue for common cognitive distortions like catastrophizing or all-or-nothing thinking.

Practice self-validation rather than relying solely on external approval. The simplest way to adopt this practice into your day is to write a list of 10 positive affirmations and place them in a highly visible space.

Each morning and evening, repeat these formations until they become your truth.

4. Show compassion for yourself

Treat yourself with the same kindness you would offer a good friend facing similar doubts. Too many people are harsh and judgmental on themselves in ways they would never be with people they care about.

Recognise that imperfection is part of the shared human experience. Practice mindfulness to create space between experiencing imposter feelings and believing them to be true.

Forgive yourself for past mistakes instead of using them as evidence of inadequacy - remind yourself you are only human and everyone makes mistakes. Comfort yourself during moments of intense impostor feelings with physical self-soothing. Celebrate your progress and small wins rather than focusing exclusively on end goals.

5. Avoid comparing yourself to other people

Remember that you're seeing others' highlight reels while living your behind-the-scenes reality. Focus on your personal growth trajectory rather than external benchmarks. Recognise that everyone has different strengths, resources, and circumstances that make direct comparisons meaningless.

Channel competitive energy into inspiration rather than self-criticism. Understand that comparison is often a distraction from your unique path.

Try turning off social media or restricting your use. Look only at content that inspires you or pleases you, not content that fills you with negative thoughts.

Your life is never going to be the same as another's; we all have to walk our path, regardless of what other people are doing.

6. Use the power of visualisation to envisage your success

Create detailed mental images of completing challenging tasks. Incorporate all your senses into visualisation exercises - sight, sound, touch and taste. The more you invest in visualisation exercises, the more you will get out of them.

Visualise yourself calmly handling potential obstacles rather than just the perfect scenario. Create a visual anchor for moments of self-doubt that could crop up.

Practice embodied visualisation by physically assuming the posture you associate with confidence, or visualise someone you respect and admire and mirror their qualities and postures to build confidence and self-belief.

7. Develop a powerful personal mantra

Create a concise, meaningful phrase that directly counters your specific impostor thoughts. Repeat your mantra during challenging moments to interrupt negative thought patterns.

Ensure your mantra is stated in the present tense and framed positively. Personalise your mantra to reflect your core values and beliefs.

Practice your mantra consistently during calm periods so it becomes automatic during stressful situations. Anchor your mantra to physical cues like deep breathing or touching your wrist to reinforce your mantra faster.

8. Share your feelings about feeling an impostor

Discuss your impostor feelings with trusted friends, colleagues or mentors. Join professional groups or online communities where impostor syndrome is openly discussed to share experiences and garner support.

Consider therapy or coaching to explore the roots of your impostor feelings in a safe environment. Use journaling to externalise and examine your impostor thoughts and put more positive thoughts in their place.

The more you share your thoughts and feelings about feeling like an impostor, the more you will start to counteract your thoughts and feelings.

9. Celebrate your wins

Create a "victory board" where you record achievements both large and small. Regardless of the size of the achievement, the result is what is important.

You can also start to develop a personal celebration ritual for completing challenging tasks to highlight all of your accomplishments.

Share your achievements with supportive people such as work colleagues, friends or family who are happy to celebrate with you and who will help you internalise your success.

Analyse your successes to identify the specific skills and strengths that contributed to your positive outcomes.

Take the time to recognise your effort and progress, not just perfect the outcomes. You can also create physical reminders of your achievements for when you need a mental boost.

10. Accept that you are human, don’t attempt to be perfect

Embrace a growth mindset that views mistakes as learning opportunities rather than character flaws, as Stanford psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck explains: "The belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work creates resilience and a love of learning that sustains achievement." Distinguish between high standards and perfectionism.

Practice self-compassionate self-talk when you make mistakes, and learn to recognise that vulnerability and authenticity create stronger connections than projected perfection.

Set yourself realistic expectations by acknowledging human limitations such as the need for rest, collaboration, and learning curves.

Learn to share both successes and struggles with your colleagues to normalise the reality of professional development.

11. Accept the Imposter feelings as something that occurs

Recognise impostor feelings as a common experience rather than a personal defect. Begin to practice mindful awareness of impostor thoughts without automatically believing them.

Impostor feelings often intensify during growth periods; they are often a sign that you are stretching beyond your current limitations.

View imposter syndrome as information in your world rather than an obstacle.

Even highly accomplished individuals experience persistent impostor feelings. Once you accept this fact, it should help you to cope with the feelings you have.

12. Adopt the fake it until you make it approach

Understand that "faking it" means acting in alignment with your aspirations rather than being deceptive. If you have problems when you begin this, try practising confident body language even when you don't feel confident.

Recognise that competence often follows confidence rather than the reverse. Use role models as templates for you to emulate.

You also need to develop an understanding that identity development often involves a period of conscious performance before becoming firmly set in your mind.

Therefore, you need to combine the "fake it" approach with continuous skill development,

13. Keep a Journal of being complimented and your accomplishments

To become aware of your thoughts and actions, start a practice of journaling. Create a dedicated "evidence journal" where you record positive feedback and achievements.

Review your journal during challenging periods when impostor feelings begin to rear.

Include compliments from other people with context to maximise their impact. Make sure you document small wins alongside major achievements and analyse patterns in your accomplishments to identify your unique strengths and contributions.

14. Embrace stepping out of your comfort zone

When you are feeling discomfort, start to reframe it as a sign of growth as opposed to feelings of inadequacy.

As Dr Rick Hanson explains, "The brain forms new neural connections when confronted with novel challenges—that feeling of awkwardness is literally your brain building new capabilities."

To begin with, set yourself "just-manageable challenges" that stretch but don't overwhelm you. Also, start to celebrate the courage it takes to attempt challenging tasks regardless of the outcome.

15. Develop a positive mindset

Mindset is everything when it comes to making changes and sticking to them. Practice cognitive reframing to interpret situations in more balanced and constructive ways.

Practice cultivating an abundance mindset rather than scarcity thinking. To do this, implement a regular gratitude practice focused on any areas of professional growth and opportunities you have had.

Frequently check your self-talk for absolute terms like "always," "never," or "everyone," as these cognitive distortions will fuel negative emotions: "These cognitive distortions fuel negative emotions.

Have a ready circle of positive influences and refrain from absorbing negative news of conversations; the more you can avoid negative thinking, the more positive you will be.

16. See failure as a learning opportunity

Seeing failure as a learning opportunity is crucial in overcoming impostor syndrome.

When you encounter setbacks, it is easy to internalise them as personal shortcomings, reinforcing feelings of inadequacy you may have.

However, each failure presents valuable lessons that can guide you towards improvement and growth.

By reframing these experiences as stepping stones rather than obstacles, you will help yourself to embrace challenges with a mindset focused on development. This shift in perspective enables you to recognise your strengths and capabilities, ultimately diminishing the hold of impostor syndrome

17. Adopt a new perspective

Adopting a new perspective can help you overcome impostor syndrome. Instead of viewing achievements as mere luck or timing, recognise them as a result of your skills, hard work, and perseverance.

Shift your focus from comparing yourself to others to celebrating your unique journey and the progress you've made. Embrace the idea that everyone experiences self-doubt at times, and it does not diminish your accomplishments.

By reframing your thoughts and acknowledging your value, you can cultivate self-acceptance and build the confidence needed to move forward in your personal and professional life.

18. Use powerful body language

Powerful body language can significantly help in overcoming impostor syndrome by projecting confidence and creating a sense of empowerment. Adopting an upright posture, maintaining eye contact, and using open gestures can send strong signals to both yourself and others that you belong in the space you occupy.

When you embody confidence physically, it can alter your internal dialogue, shifting your mindset from self-doubt to self-assurance.

By consistently practising these body language techniques, you reinforce a positive self-image and gradually diminish feelings of inadequacy, allowing yourself to embrace your achievements and capabilities more fully.

19. Use a Life coach to talk it through

Working with a life coach can be a transformative experience for those struggling with impostor syndrome.

A skilled coach provides a safe space to explore the thoughts and feelings that contribute to self-doubt and insecurity.

Through structured conversations and reflective exercises, a life coach helps individuals identify the root causes of their impostor feelings, challenge negative thought patterns, and recognise their achievements.

By developing strategies to shift their mindset, clients gain the confidence to embrace their abilities and pursue their goals with assurance. Ultimately, this supportive partnership guides individuals toward a more authentic and empowered version of themselves

Final Thoughts

Overcoming impostor syndrome requires a conscious commitment to recognising and challenging negative self-beliefs that are showing up in your life.

Acknowledging that feelings of inadequacy are common can be a powerful first step.

Celebrate accomplishments, however small, to build a foundation of self-assurance.

It is essential to engage in self-reflection, examining the roots of these feelings and reframing them through constructive perspectives.

Surrounding yourself with supportive people who validate your experiences can further bolster confidence.

Remember, everyone has unique strengths, and embracing them while continuing to grow is key to overcoming impostor syndrome and achieving your goals.

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