Embrace Your Imposter Syndrome
Because "only losers don't feel like losers"
I have a confession to make. There are days—including one recently—when self-doubt creeps in and I worry about what comes next for me in my career.
Questions like … “Am I employable?” “What am I even qualified to do at this point?” … take up residence in my mind.
Which is, of course, ludicrous.
I was a vice president at three points in my career, in three different industries—two before I even had a college degree. I was a four-time university CIO. I’ve spoken at countless conferences, written numerous articles, and mentored dozens of aspiring IT leaders over the course of my career.
After leaving higher education I served as an industry analyst and led go-to-market strategy for U.S. higher education for a multi-billion dollar company. And I now lead a global partner program that impacts thousands of technology companies worldwide.
By any measure, I’m accomplished.
And still self-doubt persists. Despite an impressive resume and enduring belief that I am good at what I do, doubt stealthily creeps into my mind like a thief in the night.
Sometimes it retreats back into the shadows as quietly and quickly as it came. Other times I recognize it and scare it off with the sudden realization in a conversation or meeting—“oh yeah, I know my sh*t” … a revelation that I’ve known all along and yet some small part of me continues to be surprised by.
I’m not new to imposter syndrome. I’ve written about it before. I’ve discovered that even powerful and accomplished women like fashion icon Diane von Furstenberg “Sometimes … feel like a f***ing loser.”
In the years since my last post on the subject, I’ve made peace with my imposter syndrome. I’ve learned to embrace it, and have shared my strategy with others to help them do the same:
Recognize it, name it, and claim it. Then put it in its place. Don’t let it paralyze you, but rather, let it be the fire that fuels you.
It turns out my instincts were right—self-doubt just might be the key to your (and my) success. Research cited in a recent Inc. article found that …
“…those who report feeling imposter syndrome perform better at work.
Only the delusional, the complacent, or the ignorant never worry they're not good enough.”
Great news! If you feel imposter syndrome you’re likely not delusional, complacent, or ignorant. 👏
Rather than being an impediment, imposter syndrome just might be your “professional superpower,” reflecting your ability to take on new (and sometimes uncomfortable) challenges, learn, grow, and achieve. The fire that fuels you to succeed.
So the next time self-doubt tries to creep in, take a page from von Furstenberg’s playbook and remind yourself that “only losers don’t feel like losers.”
And then go out there and rise even higher and shine even brighter—like the badass that you are.
If you like what you’ve read, please help me get the word out and share “Some Guy Named Rae” with a friend!