Beating the Impostor Syndrome. Portia Mount

      

       IDEAS INTO ACTION

       BEATING THE IMPOSTOR SYNDROME

       IDEAS INTO ACTION SERIES

      Aimed at managers and executives who are concerned with their own and others development, each book in this series gives specific advice on how to complete a developmental task or solve a leadership problem.

       LEAD CONTRIBUTORS

       Portia Mount and Susan Tardanico

       SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR

       Rie Ingold

       CONTRIBUTOR

       Sophia Zhao

       DIRECTOR OF ASSESSMENTS, TOOLS, AND PUBLICATIONS

       Sylvester Taylor

       MANAGER, PUBLICATION DEVELOPMENT

       Peter Scisco

       EDITOR

       Stephen Rush

       ASSOCIATE EDITOR

       Shaun Martin

       DESIGN, LAYOUT, AND COVER DESIGN

       Ed Morgan, navybluedesign.com

       RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS

       Kelly Lombardino

       Copyright ©2014 Center for Creative Leadership.

       All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America.

       CCL No. 00464

       ISBN No. 978-1-60491-529-7

       Center for Creative Leadershipwww.ccl.org

       IDEAS INTO ACTION

       BEATING THE IMPOSTOR SYNDROME

       Portia Mount

       Susan Tardanico

       IDEAS INTO ACTION SERIES

      This series of books draws on the practical knowledge that the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) has generated since its inception in 1970. The purpose of the series is to provide leaders with specific advice on how to complete a developmental task or solve a leadership challenge. CCL’s researchers and educators work together to understand and generate practical responses to the ever-changing circumstances of leadership and organizational challenges. Our proven and cutting edge ideas serve leaders and organizations around the world, who put those ideas into action every day. We believe you will find the Ideas Into Action series of books an important addition to your leadership toolkit.

       CONTENTS

       Are You an Impostor?

       How Impostor Syndrome Affects You

       How Impostor Syndrome Affects Others

       Wait! I Can Explain!

       Overcoming Impostor Syndrome

       Step 1: Focus on Facts

       Step 2: Challenge Your Limiting Beliefs

       Step 3: Get Clear on Your Strengths

       Step 4: Talk About It

       Parting Thoughts

      In Brief

      The Impostor Syndrome is a well-researched, well-documented phenomenon that occurs when successful and intelligent professionals feel they do not deserve their accomplishments and that they have faked their way to success. This syndrome can cause negative stress, fear, anxiety, loss of confidence, and can eventually lead to derailment. However, by overcoming inaccurate beliefs about yourself and your abilities, you can overcome the Impostor Syndrome and enjoy a more fulfilling career.

      First, you should focus on the facts of your success, and document what skills and techniques you possess helped you achieve those successes. Next, you should identify and challenge your limiting beliefs. These beliefs may hold you back from really owning your accomplishments, because they give you an inaccurate picture of what success actually looks like. Then, you should get clear on the strengths you possess, instead of just focusing on your weaknesses, and take the time to maximize and showcase those strengths. Finally, you should talk to others to help obtain a clearer picture of your skills and your accomplishments. Additional perspectives can help you see the flaws in your own perspective, and give you the information you need in order to accurately view yourself as competent.

      By completing these four steps, you can overcome the debilitating nature of the Impostor Syndrome, and truly embrace your accomplishments and abilities.

      AreYOUan IMPOSTOR?

      Career experts and mental health professionals call it the “Impostor Syndrome.” Successful and intelligent leaders who have earned promotions, accolades, and recognition from their bosses, their peers, and their teams feel, deep down, like frauds. They worry that it’s only a matter of time before they are found out and their colleagues question their abilities.

      Leaders who exhibit the Impostor Syndrome share many traits. They are typically ambitious, high-achieving individuals who believe they have not earned success. They frequently discount their own accomplishments. Negative stress, anxiety, and fear remind these leaders of their sense of inadequacy.

       Does this sound like you or someone you know?

      This book explains the developmental challenges that arise when “impostors” fail to recognize their abilities and are unable to internalize their accomplishments. After reading this book, you will learn how to recognize and manage the symptoms of the Impostor Syndrome to create a productive and fulfilling career.

       War Games

      Charlie, a retired US army colonel, served for seven years in key strategic leadership roles at the Pentagon. After hearing the authors speak about the Impostor Syndrome at a conference in Washington, DC, Charlie approached the dais full of emotion. “All these years, I had no idea what it was,” he said. “I thought I was broken. I used to sit behind a desk, wearing this decorated uniform, feeling like a scared, incompetent nine-year-old in a hero’s costume. For the life of me, I couldn’t