When running a business, one of the things that some owners face is having imposter syndrome, and this is due to the numerous complexities involved in building and running a company. In fact, the truth is that as you continue taking steps in business, you’ll experience a lot of things that need to be done first, and this inevitably results in imposter syndrome. Sometimes, when not careful, you can begin to wonder why you took this path and endlessly start questioning yourself.
Imposter syndrome is real and is affecting a lot of individuals today, and this doesn’t exclude business owners either, as they continue to doubt their results despite being responsible for such accomplishments. As a budding entrepreneur, it’s important to keep in mind that achieving success is not something that’ll come just like that. That’s why you need to overcome imposter syndrome if your goal is to progress in business. As we delve further into the article, we’ll be discussing imposter syndrome within the world of entrepreneurs and some useful tips that can help build your confidence.
Discussing Imposter Syndrome
Of course, imposter syndrome may not necessarily be viewed as a mental health issue, however, it’s still a serious situation that is bedeviling most companies today. Imposter syndrome is very common among companies, irrespective of their team’s gender, age or niche. Imposter syndrome is mostly a phenomenon in which an individual has self-doubt and has the fear of being exposed as a fraud even when there’s enough evidence to show that the achievement is real.
There are some signs and symptoms that come with imposter syndrome and they include:
- Fear of failure (mostly thinking of perfectionism)
- Working overtime to prove competency
- Downplaying accomplishments
- Constantly attributing success achieved to luck
According to a survey carried out by KAJABI, 84% of the entrepreneurs and small business owners felt like imposters at different levels. That’s just to show how much people do feel about their competence levels and here’s a perk, if you feel you’re alone in it, well that isn’t true! Some business owners ended up failing in their operations because of their continuous doubt in the team’s abilities. You need to deal with imposter syndrome, if achieving success and encouraging long-term growth is part of your goals.
How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome
Starting a business can be very exciting for entrepreneurs, however, it’s a journey that is filled with so many ups and downs which means that you need to be adequately prepared. However, having imposter syndrome can further increase fears of uncertainty and if not properly checked on time, can be detrimental to the success of your business. To overcome imposter syndrome, you need some real strategies to build and sustain your confidence levels.
That being said, let’s take a look at some tips that can help you overcome imposter syndrome.
1. Set Realistic Goals
One of the first tips that can help you overcome imposter syndrome is setting goals that are realistic and achievable. This is possible through breaking down goals that are large into manageable ones. Also, you should make some tasks a priority to avoid being overwhelmed.
2. Develop Resilience Strategies
Another thing you should consider when preparing to overcome imposter syndrome is developing strategies that can ensure resilience. You can develop resilient strategies by building mechanisms that can both leaders and teams cope with stress, promote a work-life balance, and take mindful practices. Building resilience helps you not only overcome imposter syndrome but become much better at accomplishing goals.
3. Encourage Continuous Learning With Professional Development
When people constantly try to learn new things and develop their abilities, it becomes easier for them to overcome their fears and become better than ever before. Well, this also applies to imposter syndrome, however, investment in education and skill development can help you overcome fears of being a fraud. Staying informed about trends helps you to keep updated and this can in turn boost your confidence in progressing further.
4. Seek Positive Feedback
Most times, entrepreneurs want to push themselves to become the best and in a bid to do this, they look down on themselves. That’s why, to build your confidence, it’s vital to seek positive feedback. In fact, you can share what you’ve done so far with mentors and ask for their guidance which can help increase your morale needed to go further.
Key Points
Without much doubt, overcoming imposter syndrome is a procedure that requires commitment, complete self-awareness, and willingness to adopt vulnerability. You should always keep in mind that having confidence is not about removing self-doubt but knowing how to go through and channel it into a positive action. As an entrepreneur, you can build confidence and overcome imposter syndrome by setting realistic goals, developing resilient strategies, and seeking positive feedback.
