• Friday, March 29, 2024
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BusinessDay

My struggle with Impostor Syndrome and how I overcame it

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“I’m not good enough.”

“I don’t deserve to be in the spotlight.”

“Is my work really that good to be recognized for it?”

If you’ve ever caught yourself saying any of the above or similar phrases to yourself, then it is possible that you have a case of what is called impostor syndrome.

Impostor Syndrome happens to the best of us. There are moments that I question whether I am good enough for a particular opportunity or platform. Sometimes, you just want to remain behind the scene, in case it turns out that you’re not as good as people perceive you to be. What impostor syndrome does to you as a professional is that it prevents you from reaching your full potential and it prevents you from owning your accomplishments.

There is an official definition of Impostor Syndrome which describes it as the overwhelming feeling that you do not deserve your success. Impostor syndrome convinces you that you are not as intelligent, creative or talented as you may seem. It is a suspicion that your achievements are down to luck, good timing or just being in the ‘right place at the right time’ and it is often accompanied by the fear that, one day, you will be exposed as a fraud.

I’m sure many of us can relate. I like to define impostor syndrome as the voice in your head that questions whether you are truly good enough. When I started out my professional journey, I battled with a serious case of impostor syndrome. It was paralysing, in fact. It affected how much I charged people for my services and it tainted my self-image. One particular example stands out for me. I had worked hard on the re-launch of a magazine that I managed. It was huge because it was the first time we released a cover that was not the regular photo shoot.

We chose to experiment with doing an illustration and it really turned out well. On the night of the official launch, I began to panic at the thought of giving a speech to talk about the journey of creating that particular edition. I did the work, went over and above to ensure the end product was excellent but when it was time to own that achievement, I shrunk. Instead of climbing that stage to reveal the magazine to the public, I went to look for a cosy place to hide and put my phone on silent. When my colleagues couldn’t find me, someone else had to seize the moment. There are many stories like this in my professional journey, unfortunately.

In the last two years, I have been more deliberate about overcoming impostor syndrome. While it creeps up on me occasionally, I have mastered how to deal with it when it shows and that’s what I’d kike to share with you.

Establish what it is that you actually know and do well. What are those things that you are so good at that you can do them from sleep? For me, it is writing and creating a communications strategy. I know how to write an excellent copy or article and I am proud of that.

Put yourself forward and understand that rejection is not the end of the world. If you don’t push yourself out, who will? Encourage yourself to take chances. Volunteer for that project, put your hand up to do that task at work, share that idea during a meeting, pitch yourself on social media. I tell myself that the worst anybody can do is to say no or ignore my requests. I have had a fair share of no’s but I’ve had many more ‘yes’ all because I took the risk to step out.

Surround yourself with people who affirm you and your gift. You can call them your hype men or women. I have them and I love them. They say things like, “Adedoyin, you are genius sha! Communications strategist of life!” It helps to build my confidence.

Be positively inspired by the stories and achievements of other professionals within and outside your industry. Their backstories are evidence that you are not alone in this.

When it comes to overcoming impostor syndrome, you must understand that what plays out is a battle of the voices. There is the Loud and Stubborn Voice that makes you hide behind the scene, shrink and question whether you really deserve to be in the spotlight. Then there is the Very Silent but Assuring Voice that says go for it, you are a superstar. This is the voice that make you confident in your abilities.
Which voice are you going to empower? The choice is always yours.

About Adedoyin Jaiyesimi
Adedoyin Jaiyesimi is the Chief Communications Consultant at The Comms Avenue, a capacity building and knowledge exchange platform for leading and innovative communications professionals across the world. The Comms Avenue offers high-level knowledge sharing meetings and training programs for communications professionals and corporate organizations.