Empowered to Overcome Imposter Phenomenon

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It's a common experience, but one that is often swept under the rug. Perhaps you've started a new job or a new role. You know enough to get started, but you still have more to learn. You've been given the responsibility, but in the moment you can't help wondering why anyone would believe you are qualified to succeed. You feel like an imposter. And you're terrified someone is going to find out.

Imposter phenomenon can hit at any time, in any area of life. Some best selling novelists feel it every time they submit or publish a new book. Top executives can feel it when getting ready to make a big move or change. It can look like anxiety over a new job, starting a business, going back to school, raising a child, or pursuing a dream.

Estimates vary greatly, but anywhere from 9-82 percent of people experience imposter phenomenon at some point in their lives. Overcoming imposter phenomenon is challenging. It requires more than just a positive attitude and elbow grease. It can require a complete mindset shift, developing confidence in your ability to do the job, navigate the change, or face the challenge.

Sometimes imposter phenomenon may be a short-term experience, the overwhelm during the first few weeks of a new job, new class, or new school. Other times, it can be a lifelong companion that whispers the success you've already experienced in just a fluke. It can be linked to age, gender, socio-economic status, or any other piece of your identity.

Unpacking the Triggers of Imposter Phenomenon

Any time you are challenged to learn new skills or put yourself out there, you're at risk. But just because it feels risky doesn't mean you shouldn't try.

Empower Creative Agency LLC's owner, Paris Gramann, said she has encountered imposter phenomenon on various fronts throughout her life.

One component of it, she said, deals with perception versus reality. So often she catches herself comparing her progress to the final products others are showcasing, which can lead to feeling like an imposter.

“The majority of life is spent in the process and not the final product,” Gramann said.

Gramann enjoys dreaming big and coming up with the biggest and brightest version of a project. However, imposter phenomenon can be triggered when she's faced with the process (even when she's planned the steps already) and the looming specter of perfection, Gramann said. The challenge is juxtaposing the vision and dream with reality, and knowing how to build a team to accomplish it. Otherwise, Gramann said, it's easy to get stuck unable to accomplish everything—because the reality is no one can accomplish everything alone.

When she started her book Just Be (which would end up being a prototype project for Empower Creative Agency's project management services), Gramann was in high school. Sharing her early manuscript with other authors who had gone through the publishing process with a children's book, she found the feedback she received lacking, more of a discouragement than an encouragement, she said. Ultimately, it took her several more years to overcome the feelings and hurdles that stood in her way. One message she felt she received was that publishing her children's book was much harder than she understood, which led her to question whether she could accomplish her goal, she said.

“That was imposter syndrome, being like, 'why do I think I can do this?'” Gramann said. “So it took me years to finish that project.”

Even now as a business owner, she still works actively to combat imposter phenomenon, often through breaking down the process into manageable steps so that she can keep moving forward.

The question of what is next can trigger feelings of imposter phenomenon, as well.

“I've obviously never been past where I'm at,” she said of running Empower Creative Agency. Every time her business grows or branches out into a new project, she must remember that she's succeeded this far already and that she is capable of problem solving and finding solutions to any challenge that arises.

Gramann has enjoyed the projects she's been a part of, but the future is always looming, challenging her about the things she doesn't know.

For example, she said, she's helped several clients successfully crowdfund their projects. But when it's compared to the bigger funds raised by other projects, she can fall into comparison and imposter feelings.

“It's like your brain keeps looking at what you haven't done yet and you're like, 'I want to do that but I don't know how to do that,'” she said.

Empowerment Through Imperfection

In a highly individualized society, the idea of relying on a team can trigger imposter phenomenon. Many people think they must be perfect and do it all themselves in order to truly be successful.

“You can still be good at something but not perfect at it,” Gramann said. “If you don't have to be perfect it allows you to address your shortfalls.”

Imperfection is also the breeding ground for growth and development—as long as you have the right team and environment behind you.

In the spring, Gramann was the assistant project manager for a big mayoral event in Philadelphia. While she felt confident with the different pieces of the project, the scale and visibility of the project sometimes triggered imposter phenomenon, she said. The hiring team expressed confidence in her ability and knew she was the project manager they wanted to hire, which was a nice encouragement, Gramann said. But switching roles was scary at times.

“How do you navigate being in charge but also still having space [to say] 'but I don't know everything and I do need help'?” Gramann said.

When the time came for Gramann to take the lead, she was thankful that communication and collaboration had been heavily modeled up to that point, so she could rely on the team instead of getting trapped in the isolation of perfection, she said.

Vulnerability and Validation

Gramann started her business because she encountered so many people who had good ideas they were passionate about, but they kept getting stuck in execution, she said.

“I think imposter syndrome is the reason a lot of my clients haven't finished stuff. Not just imposter syndrome, but imposter syndrome is part of it,” she said.

Her clients question whether they can accomplish the goal, they don't know the steps, or they need someone with experience to affirm that they are on the right track.

“If you aren't validated all your anxiety is left to breed and fester,” she said.

Most of her clients are taking on projects that fall outside their industry or professional knowledge, which can increase feelings of imposter phenomenon, Gramann said.

Empower Creative Agency client ACO Jess wanted to write a children's book series about her work as an animal control officer, in part to help educate kids on what the job entails and to debunk some myths that animal control officers are villains, Gramann said. And although Jess has vast experience with animal control, translating it into a children's book project required her to branch out into an entirely new industry. This can easily lead to anxiety over what other people may think about your qualifications and motives, Gramann said.

Blending experience with something new is challenging, Gramann said. It's easy and normal to feel embarrassed at the thought of doing something wrong when you've never done it before, Gramann said.

Empower Creative Agency, then, is a healthy mixture of cheerleading and practical project management. Gramann helps her clients manage their emotional and mental health around the project and establish steps to make progress toward the end goal.

Imposter Phenomenon or Discrimination?

Some studies and surveys suggest that women may experience imposter phenomenon more often than men—and in the very least, it is perceived that way. But it begs an important question: are women truly feeling imposter phenomenon or is it a workplace culture that is discriminatory and discouraging for women in leadership positions? This extends beyond just women and can be a important consideration for people who face any kind of discrimination or bias surrounding their age, race, identity, disability, or any number of other factors.

The Harvard Business Review dives into this issue, calling out a propensity to “diagnose” women with imposter syndrome (the American Psychological Association says “phenomenon” or “experience” is more appropriate because it is not a clinical diagnosis). In reality, what many women are most likely experiencing is a mixture of normal, natural uncertainty in a new role or environment, paired with an unwarranted, very biased professional culture that considers it surprising or outside the norm for a woman to be successful in high profile or higher stakes roles. This is applicable to other identity factors as well. When people are constantly expected to prove their worth—especially to a person or group expecting failure—they will most likely burn out and find a different, better place to use their talents and passions.

5 Creative Tips for Combating Imposter Phenomenon

Fighting feelings of inadequacy and imposterism is challenging, but there are some things that can help. Here are a few tips:

1. Remember your achievements.
   In most cases, it's highly unlikely that you got to where you are based solely on luck and fooling people into believing that you are capable. Remembering that you have already succeeded can help empower your confidence. One way you can do this is to keep a binder of your achievements. This can include performance reviews, report cards, certificates and/or degrees, other awards and recognitions, and even notes of thank you or appreciation that you've received. Put in anything that helps remind you that you have already been successful and you are capable to take on your next challenge. It's not arrogance or prideful to acknowledge that you've accomplished something and done it well.

2. Talk about it.
   Whether you turn to a professional counselor or therapist, a mentor or colleague, or friends and family, beginning the discussion about imposter phenomenon allows you to see that other people experience it too, while also letting people affirm and encourage your growth and success. You are also likely to find that changing or challenging your self-talk can make a difference in your mindset. Speaking more kindly to yourself and challenging your negative thoughts can help empower you when facing new things.

3. Support others.
   Whether you struggle with imposter phenomenon or not, one of the most helpful things to do is support others in your circle who may be feeling it. Particularly in professional settings, being cognizant of the culture and systems that help or hinder people from achieving is important. Encourage your fellow coworkers or students who tend to be marginalized or overlooked, fight for their promotions and recognition, and call out any behaviors that imply (or blatantly state) that they don't belong.

4. Focus on progress over perfection.
   It's been said before to not let perfect become the enemy of good. Whether it's clear ways to improve or fine-tuning efficiency, every opportunity is a chance to learn. But acknowledging how far you've already come, and acknowledging that you don't have to be perfect to be successful, can help you put imposter feelings in their place.

5. Identify anxieties and assumptions, then de-risk them.
   Gramann said this is a tool that has been helpful for her and for her clients. It begins with creating a list of the anxious thoughts and questions to identify the assumptions she has about a project or role. Then she can de-risk it by crafting questions to ask experts and mentors who have already succeeded. Gramann said she caught imposter phenomenon sneaking up on her when she realized her brain wasn't able to fully rest because of the anxiety and concerns that were constantly churning in her mind. Getting them down on paper and out of her head is a first step toward solving the problem and finding the knowledge needed to put imposter phenomenon in its place.
   

Imposter phenomenon isn't necessarily something we can solve and eradicate. But we can do our part in our little corners of the world and workplace to normalize open and honest conversations about it so that it is doesn't have to be a debilitating and purposelessly private mental health hurdle. Your vulnerability will empower you to overcome, and just may empower someone else to overcome as well.