That little voice is called Imposter Syndrome and it is the #1 confidence killer for successful people. For you, to be an impostor may mean that you have feelings of inadequacy even though that you have evidence of success and you have the know-how.
Watch the video below to discover six signs that you might have imposter syndrome:
And if you have experienced it anything like what I've experienced, you may find yourself simultaneously holding yourself back from big opportunities to grow your business and fuming when you see someone who is less qualified or less experienced getting featured as a keynote speaker, in a major news publication, or on your favorite podcast.
Imposter syndrome is one of the largest biggest challenges for smart, savvy women entrepreneurs (and it's why I have my current clients reading Playing Big by Tara Mohr)...
... because even the most credentialed expert can convince herself that she's not qualified enough...
... or her branding and website isn't good enough...
... or she's not old enough / not young enough...
... or she's not smart enough...
... or (my personal favorite) she isn't pretty or thin enough.
I'm here to tell you that you are MORE THAN ENOUGH.
These were all the stories that I told myself for years - that I wasn't ready yet - and I was holding myself back in my business for fear of not being good enough. Then I realized I was waiting to see someone just like me, do what I wanted to do. I was waiting for permission. I was waiting for someone else to tell me that I was worthy of my dreams. So I decided to take stock of all that I've accomplished by writing down a list of 20 reasons I WAS ENOUGH. That list was irrefutable evidence that I was MORE THAN good enough, and I was truly doing the world a disservice by not showing up for my dreams 110%.
A study showed that approximately 70 percent of people feel as though they are a fraud at times. You may feel this way in spite of the awards you have received, no matter how much praise you receive and the many opportunities you have been offered. There just seems to be a little voice in your head that is always telling you that you don't deserve it. That little voice tells you that you do not have enough skills, talent or experience to succeed in your field.
The good news is that you are not alone. Not even close. Many of the super successful people that you look up to feel as though they are frauds. This may sound wild; however, it is the truth. Even better news is that it doesn’t have to remain that way. The following tips can help you begin to not only identify and understand your imposter syndrome, but to take away its power and get back to feeling fabulous about yourself.
5 tips for stopping your imposter syndrome
Practice "just-in-time learning". Want to develop your skills? Acquire new knowledge for what you are implementing in your life right now. What new thing can you learn that applies to your life today?
Join Forces. You don't have to do this alone. Build your power team and reach out for advice. Rely upon your support system.
Give Help to Others. The next time you are wondering about your own skills, get in community and help someone else. Helping others is a fast way to remind yourself that you DO know what you are doing.
Review Your Accomplishments. Review your resume and your professional experiences, certifications, and qualifications. Look at all you've done to boost your confidence.
Be Honest with Your Feelings. Ask yourself: Why am I feeling this way? What am I really feeling? Are these feelings genuine or useful?
