Nepotism and chocolate biscuits: overcoming impostor syndrome
Updated: Jul 16, 2020
It’s short and sweet this week. We’re talking impostor syndrome.
What are the symptoms of impostor syndrome?
You feel like a fraud
You feel like you’re going to be found out
You ‘lucked out’ getting your job
You’re here by fluke
You think you only achieved things because people were nice to you/nepotism/connections/you had help, etc
You’re frequently found panicking about things that haven’t happened yet, eating one too many chocolate biscuits, and feeling a bit sick*
How do you navigate it? Well, remind yourself of this truth:
If you feel like, or you’re worried about being an impostor, you almost definitely aren’t.
Conversely, if you’re not worried about being an impostor, you may well be.
And why would impostor syndrome be of interest to someone who wanted to improve their communication skills?
The best communication arguably comes from authentic-human-to-authentic-human interaction. This is why ChatBots don’t work as well as a real person, pre-recorded voicemails make you incandescent with rage in 0.8 seconds, and why impostor syndrome hamstrings your ability to be honest, speak with integrity, and trust that you’ve got something worthy to say.
There are a tonne of exercises out there to help you overcome impostor syndrome, but
there’s one technique that will change everything for you.
It’s damn simple, too.
Just do the thing.
Wait. What?
I’m not going to send you that GIF, and annoying as this over-simple advice is, it’s also communication medicine.
Do the thing. Screw up. Get out of your own way. Speak the shame (it lives in silence). Learn from your experiences. Decide to be different.
But for the love of your brilliant, wonderful self, and everything you are and have to give...
Don’t play small. You’re needed. Do the thing. *Just me? Oh, okay then.