Pearls to Power: 5 Actions to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

The Pearls to Power Coaching Program for Women is a personal strategy course specifically for women. Its creation is driven by a recognition that women face unique challenges and barriers in their personal and professional lives. These challenges may include discrimination, bias, and a lack of representation in leadership roles, all of which can make it more difficult for women to set and achieve their goals. Some challenges women face are more internal than external.

So, in the Pearls to Power Program, we spend time on limiting beliefs. Limiting beliefs are negative thoughts or assumptions that individuals hold about themselves, others, or the world around them. These beliefs can act as mental barriers and limit an individual's potential for personal growth and achievement. Limiting beliefs, which can take various forms, such as self-doubt, fear of failure, feeling unworthy, or believing that success is impossible, often arise from past experiences or conditioning. Individuals may not even be aware that they hold these beliefs. They can be deeply ingrained and have a significant impact on behavior, decisions, and one’s overall outlook on life.

Examples of limiting beliefs may include "I'm not good enough," "I don't deserve success," or "I can't do it."

Imposter syndrome is a type of limiting belief. It is a psychological phenomenon in which an individual doubts their accomplishments and fears being exposed as a fraud, despite evidence of their competence and success. Those experiencing imposter syndrome often attribute their achievements to external factors, such as luck, rather than their own abilities and efforts. They may feel that they are not as capable as others perceive them to be and worry that they will be exposed as unworthy, incompetent, or not good enough.

Overcoming limiting beliefs involves recognizing and challenging these negative thoughts and replacing them with positive, empowering beliefs that support personal growth and success. In particular, overcoming imposter syndrome also includes acknowledging one's own accomplishments and abilities. It can also be helpful to seek support from colleagues, friends, or a mental health professional to develop a more positive self-image and reduce feelings of self-doubt.

Here are a few action items to use in the face of imposter syndrome.

1. Get a new view

• A core cause of imposter syndrome is a flawed picture of what other people are like.

• The best way to get around this gap is to consider that other people are experiencing and have experienced the same self-doubt and negative thinking that you have.

• Understanding that it’s normal to experience self-doubt and that the people around you aren’t as perfect and polished as they may seem decreases the power of the imposter syndrome.

2. Notice what you notice

• Recognize that thoughts are thoughts. Like clouds are clouds. In other words, these randomly appearing words flow through in the same way as clouds in the sky. Thoughts lack substance and need not have power over us.

• When we recognize ourselves having an imposter thought (“I hope they never find me out,” “I’m not good/smart/talented enough for this,” “I don’t belong” etc.) notice that thought, name it, and acknowledge that it is just a thought and nothing more.

• The act of labeling slows down our instinctive responses, giving us the space and presence to choose how we respond to the thought.

3. Focus on the facts

• Create an “accomplishment sheet”, a list of all your professional and personal accomplishments. Push yourself to write them down as objectively as possible. Then, in times when self-doubt is intense, take a look at the sheet. Read it aloud in the mirror.

4. Lean into our strengths

• Many of us are taught to identify problems and concentrate on finding solutions in our work and professional lives. This is often attributed to the human tendency towards negativity bias.

• However, this pattern can be altered with deliberate effort and practice.

• Directing attention towards our strengths can result in a greater sense of energy and resilience to confront challenges in both our personal and professional spheres. It also helps to build confidence and cultivate a more realistic understanding of our capabilities.

5. Develop positive self-talk

• When the negative chatter gets to be too much, taking moments of silence to calm it down helps.

• Then, it is helpful to have positive chatter to create after the silence.

  • “I am worthy and talented and I deserve this”

  • “I trust my judgment and I make strong decisions”

  • “I am endlessly resilient to whatever life throws at me!”

  • “I am good, I do my best, and I cannot control all the rest”

To learn more about the Pearls to Power Program, which starts its next series on 16th May 2023, visit our site here.

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