The first thing we must do is to explain in an easy way, what this syndrome is.
In practical terms it is a voice telling you that you are an intellectual fraud.
It manifests itself in top performers or successful people who are unable to assimilate and recognize their achievements. For these people a successful career or academic achievements are not enough to call them success since they do not feel deserving it.
According to Dr. Valerie Young, 7 out of 10 people have suffered from this syndrome.
Aida Baida Gil, author of the book "How to overcome impostor syndrome", has affirmed that those who suffer from it "have the sensation of never being up to the task, not being good, competent or capable enough, or being impostors, a fraud".
Aida Baida classifies them into two levels: one that disappears with time and experience and that manifests itself when we face a new challenge or job position, and another that worsens over time.
They prefer to attribute success to external factors, luck, or hard work, but not to their intelligence or capabilities. In addition, they claim failure as their own. This syndrome goes far beyond low self-esteem or lack of confidence.
People who suffer from it often feel insecure, anxious, sad, hopeless, and frustrated. They believe they cannot meet the high standards of their career.
What are the causes?
There are 4 possible causes that have been identified as the origin of the syndrome:
1. Family dynamics with very successful parents or relatives, or when the person is identified as the black sheep.
2. Gender stereotypes. For example, women face messages of success and failure different from those of men.
3. Salary differences that do not reflect the intelligence and performance of people.
4. Perception of success, failure, and competition with almost unattainable high levels of demand.
How does it affect your work life?
It affects you directly and more than you can imagine. It affects your day to day by imagining that you don't deserve success, that others will discover that you are not so smart, by doubting your abilities, by feeling an unmanageable fear of failure, or by thinking that your results will not be good.
You will not want to take risks or ask for improvements that you really deserve such as a promotion, you will work below your potential, you will suffer from increased stress as you will try to work hard to justify your success.
What can you do to handle it?
1. Identify the emotion. Differentiate when you are being responsible for issues that do not correspond to you or do not depend on you.
2. Check your personal accomplishments with someone you trust.
3. Openly accept compliments and say thank you out loud.
4. Identify when you are worried about a mistake and don't try to look good with others.
5. Differentiate when you are approaching a subject with constructive perfectionism or with destructive nonconformity.
6. Visualize a new and positive perception about yourself and your accomplishments.
7. Ask yourself…How would you develop the dialogue with yourself in future occasions?
It is essential to work on ourselves with the help of close people and professionals to overcome that internal voice that does not allow us to recognize our real abilities and achievements.
Learn to say “Yes, I deserve it”, “Yes, I did it because I am smart”, “Yes, I do better than others and I am proud of my achievements”.
Life is yours alone and no one can take away what you have lived…no one can take away what you have achieved with your own hands.
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