75% of women experience Imposter Syndrome!
In this article, we explore the interesting phenomenon known as Imposter Syndrome! In reality, most successful women experience this occasionally or regularly! I know it’s definitely something that pops in and out of my mind and gives me a tough time every now and then.
The problem isn’t imposter syndrome itself, it’s what it makes us do that becomes the issue. Imposter syndrome, often unconsciously, impacts our efforts, our time, and our state of mind. Not to mention, our business results! Overall, Imposter syndrome is sneaky, and it appears out of nowhere! Or does it!
Let’s understand why this happen to us, how we react, and how to stop it, FOR GOOD!
Either read this article or listen to the podcast episode
Overview – Imposter Syndrome
In 2022, KPMG conducted a study across 750 successful women in business to understand how many experience imposter syndrome, self-doubt, or feelings of inadequacy.
In summary, this is what they discovered:
- 75% have personally experienced imposter syndrome at some points in their careers.
- 85% believe imposter syndrome is commonly experienced by successful women.
- 74% of successful women believe that their male counterparts do not experience feelings of self-doubt as much as female leaders do.
- 81% believe they put more pressure on themselves not to fail than men do.
It’s clear, imposter syndrome is a very common experience for women in business. Additionally, the researched produced a list of reasons why women experiance this syndrome.
A Real Life Example
I was a sporty girl all my life. Swimming, athletics, gymnastics, netball, softball, soccer, and eventually touch football in my late teens.
I fell in love with touch football because It’s a fast game and a fantastic team sport! Over the years, I was eventually selected for the state team as a shadow player. This was the same year Australia was set to host the first World Cup. My heart was set on playing in that world cup!!
To do this, I first needed to secure a spot in the state team’s starting lineup and then get selected as an Australian player. Not outside my skill or capability, but a tough journey for any player. As a shadow representative, I attended training, hoping to make the starting team if someone dropped out.
The first training session was a pivotal point in time for me. As I walked up to the field, one of the key state players turned around and said, ‘I don’t know why you bother.’ Consequently, my heart sunk! It triggered all my imposter syndrome. Therefore, I left that day with her words replaying in my mind. This really hurt! As a result, I didn’t want to go to training again. I even thought about giving up and felt completely disconnected from my dreams to represent my country.
So, at this fork in the road, there were two choices in my mind – give up or go hard! I did what most successful women do, I drove myself hard, and reached for my goal. This horrible experience became another reason to go 4 more years. In the end, I reached the NSW team, made the Australian Team, won the world cup, scored the winning try, and was named in the top 14 players in the world. Boom!
A great outcome, sure, but what was the cost of feeling like an imposter?
I trained twice a day and played games throughout the week, I put aside important relationship needs, friendship needs, business needs, and personal needs. In reality, I became obsessed. One could argue that this level of obsession is necessary to become an international athlete. However, I got a reality check forcing me to take a 6-week break because of an injury.
When I eventually returned to the game, I found I played better, I had a better mindset, and my body performed better than ever before. This forced break was the critical factor of my success!! I discovered over-working myself did not result in better performance.
Overall, my belief, that the only way to succeed was to drive myself as hard as I could, was invalid. What I discovered through injury, was that BALANCE was the critical success factor to reach the pinnacle of my sport, not the obsessive hard work. As a result, this balance enabled me to enjoy life and love, and to realise my dreams in my chosen sport!
This realisation made me see that to be successful in business, balance is critical! Our culture teaches us that working hard is a badge of honor and the key to success. Although, I believed that working harder was the answer to everything, I now know this is simply not true! Working smarter is the winning formula, and BALANCE is what we get when we do this well.
A Bonus For You
If this strikes a chord for you, go to podcast episode 04 and discover the smartest thing you can do to bring balance back to your business. This episode discusses your business model and why it is the most important foundational document for your business. Every Business model session I have run for women in business has changed their focus and balance immediately!
Learn why top entrepreneurs are turning to this method and how you can use this to streamline your operations, boost your results, and reduce the stress of driving a business!
For now, let’s find out why imposter syndrome is so prevalent in successful women and then we will dive into how to put the brakes on its effects!
What is Imposter Syndrome?
The term imposter syndrome was coined back in 1978 by psychologist researchers Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes. They observed that female high achievers secretly believe they can’t live up to the expectations of others. Additionally, they fear others will find out they are not really capable, and have doubts their achievements are the result of their own genuine competence.
You are not alone if you experience imposter syndrome. In fact, you are in the majority, in a field of amazing women!! Well done!! Their research also discovered that women tend to attributes their achievements to luck, charm, attractiveness, impressions on others, or hard work. Additionally, women experiencing imposter syndrome tend to compare themselves to others who in authority or who are validated, and this is what leads them to feel like frauds.
The impact of imposter syndrome?
I was not surprised to discover that imposter syndrome has an impact on aspects of mental health. Additionally, where the experience of imposter syndrome increases, self-esteem decreases. Although imposter syndrome is not recognized as a mental health disorder, the effects can manifest themselves as many mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, low self-confidence, neuroticism, maladaptive personality, shame, insomnia, social dysfunctions, and psychosomatic symptoms. For me, that was one heavy realization because I was not aware of how destructive imposter syndrome could be.
As I reflect on this, I realise a lot of my dysfunctional behaviour can be attributed to this very thing. How does imposter syndrome show up for you?
Do you give up?
Stay stuck?
Hide?
Excuse yourself?
Seek permission?
Deflect to others?
Not speak from your power?
Do more?
Seek more?
Avoid activites?
Over-work?
What do you do because you feel like an imposter? Let’s get really honest here… there is so much for us to gain from uncovering our relationship to imposter syndrome!!
What creates imposter syndrome in women?
There is no single cause of impostor syndrome. Culture and environment are factors with research also pointing to family dynamics and the roles people learn early in life. Let’s walk through some of the known causes:
Cause 1: Societal Stereotyping
Archaic cultural contexts about roles for men and women, and their differences in capabilities, have established deeply entrenched beliefs. Consequently, society’s expectations have shaped women’s own perception of how they ‘should’ act. So in other words, we have a predefined way of being in the world, and most of us are unaware of this unconscious programming.
Cause 2: Gender Inequality
Business studies confirm that gender inequality still exists in business. Unsurprisingly, the data is compelling and continually disappointing. Clearly, we still have a long way to go. This inequality reflects the historical context. However, the entrenched patriarchal culture is definitely changing and will continue to change. Moreover, it is women like you and me who continue to move it to a better place. Yay us!
Cause 3: Family Dynamics and the Roles People Learn early in Life
Closer to home, we have to acknowledge the reinforcement of beliefs through family behaviors, dynamics, unconscious or off-hand remarks, and the gender roles promoted or accepted at home. This is totally understandable, as culture is powerful. Moreover, home is a huge influence on what we believe.
These 3 causes, shape how we as women respond and react to our roles and achievements in business and in life.
Additional Research
An article in the Harvard Business Review called “Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome” claims it is not the individual with the problem, it is the business environment which needs fixing!! I do and don’t agree!! Yes, imposter syndrom is enabled by environmental and cultural issue, but we don’t have to wait for a long and drawn out shift in culture to change how imposter syndrome impacts us! We have the power, here and now!!
We have the power!
I believe we work with what’s within our control. Furthermore, our actions and reactions are ours to own and change! As amazing women, we can change our own experience and grow beyond the historical chains we have inherited. By disarming our imposter syndrome, we are actively continuing to steer the culture in the direction it needs to go, moment by moment.
You are the change we have been looking for!
Knowing we have the power totally tickles my fancy as I have a not so hidden desire to empower as many amazing women as possible to becomes leaders, have voices, and to create amazing businesses that make a difference in the world. We are the change the world needs! We care, we want a future for our children and their children.
Never underestimate the difference you can make!!
Dolly Parton illuminated what breaking molds looks like when she said, “I’m not going to limit myself just because people won’t accept the fact that I can do something else.”
And actress, screenwriter, and producer, Mindy Kaling, famously said, “Why the f**k not me?”
How do we stop Imposter Syndrome?
Although imposter syndrome is an experience of an unreal belief, the effects are very, very real! Our beliefs are often hidden and rarely understood or challenged. They are what we base our life, decisions, and experiences on.
To transcend the belief that drives imposter syndrome, fiirst, we need to truly accept that imposter syndrome occurs to us because we have unconsciously bought into the historical, cultural, and self-imposed beliefs of how the world works. We have bought the story that we as women are not equal to men in business. Accepting our role in our own imposter syndrome is a great first step. Once we accept this, we have the power to change the impact this belief has on our lives.
Like any hidden belief, once we uncover where this belief comes from, and how and why we ascribed to it, we have the ability to disempower it.
4 Steps to disempower the beliefs that drive our imposter syndrome
STEP 1: Observe what we are thinking and feeling
Are we feeling like a fraud, do we think we don’t deserve this, do we feel like we haven’t done enough, or that we are not as valid as others?
Get real with this. Start noticing your own self talk and acknowledge it. No judgie!! OK!?
STEP 2: Notice what this way of thinking and feeling compels you to do
Do you need to do more, be more, have more, work harder, longer, avoid things etc? Observe what you are compelled to do? This may surprise you!
STEP 3: Do not take the action you are compelled to take
Do not take any Actions or Reactions you are compelled to take, just wait. Additionally, watch the compulsion increase! Crazy stuff, hey!! Not reacting to the compulsion, is important, it disempowers the belief. And over time the belief will lose its hold and you will have fewer and fewer imposter syndrome experiences.
STEP 4: Determine what your real response should be
If you were in your power (as you should rightly be), knowing the truth about your ability and value, determine what action you would take right now. And take it!
– OVER TO YOU –
This is a practice, beliefs are tricky, stay conscious and be fearless!! Know and embrace the truth!!
This 4 step approach to disempowering your imposter syndrome might seem simple, but simple works, yet it is not always easy!! It’s the consistent application of simple that make the difference.
Your reward Is more time, more peace, and more genuine belief in who you are and the value you bring. Thankfully, this will translate into reduced overwhelm and more balance in your life.
It’s over to you! You’ve got this!!
To recap…
To disempower a belief, we need to follow these 4 steps:
STEP 1: Observe what we are thinking and feeling
STEP 2: Notice what this way of thinking and feeling compels you to do
STEP 3: Do not take the action you are compelled to take
STEP 4: Determine what your real response should be, and take it
In Closing
I am excited for you to apply this quick win in business and in life. Uncovering our beliefs and consciously disempowering them makes such a difference!
Have fun with this! And if you can see the value of this article or podcast episode, share with the women you know and love and let’s change this old story once and for all!!
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