REWARD
and therefore this can result in feelings of anxiety. As those suffering from imposter syndrome often believe they’re the only one experiencing such feelings, group sessions in which co-workers discuss their feelings of doubt and failure can be beneficial. Employees may be unwilling to participate in such sessions; therefore, it’s important that a safe environment designed to normalise and de-stigmatise such feelings is created. Managers can be supported when transitioning into a new role through the provision of training, as well as unstructured learning and career development activities such as mentoring and coaching. Offering managers access to resilience training and cognitive behavioural therapy-based sessions, focussed on targeting their negative automatic thoughts surrounding being an imposter can also be effective in helping people to overcome their imposter monsters. What can businesses do to help employees beat their imposter monsters? Identify the issue The first step businesses can take is to identify the issue. By being aware of what imposter syndrome is, they can better spot the signs of individuals suffering from it and create a supportive, inclusive culture. Educating employees on imposter syndrome can also help to alleviate their symptoms. Psychologists Dr. Gail Matthews and Dr. Pauline Clance found that simply by being advised what imposter syndrome is, and realising they weren’t alone in experiencing it, was enough to help reduce individuals’ imposter syndrome.
and reframe them as learning experiences, so people don’t fear failing. One of the characteristics of imposter syndrome is that sufferers believe they should be able to do everything perfectly and with ease. They believe that if they struggle or fail, they must be an imposter. By shifting the focus to growth following perceived failure, they can alter their mindset and realise they can develop their skills, rather than think of their ability as being fixed.
phenomenon, such as running an ‘awareness week’ can help to educate individuals on why they might be having feelings of being an imposter, helping them to realise this might not be the reality. Discovering that others have similar feelings of being an imposter can help reduce the negative feelings associated with it.
Consider coaching One to one coaching can be hugely beneficial for people suffering from imposter syndrome. A coach can help these individuals be realistic about their beliefs surrounding being an imposter and give them the tools they need to challenge and overcome this negative thinking. They might also work with them to help them identify their strengths and move towards internalising their success, increasing their confidence in their abilities. In summary, imposter syndrome can affect people at any level within a business, can lead to stress / anxiety and is linked with both perfectionism and procrastination. Managers might be particularly prone to these feelings, especially if there’s nobody to provide them with regular feedback on their performance. Promotions can result in increased feelings of being an imposter given people’s fears that they’re undeserving of the new role. It’s important businesses are aware of this phenomenon and put systems in place to support their staff and help them overcome these feelings. n
“After promotion, feelings of imposter syndrome
might become heightened as individuals
worry they’re undeserving of their new role and believe it’s only a matter of time before their bosses
or colleagues realise this”
Encouragement is also an important factor to help increase confidence, which is lacking in those with imposter syndrome. Frequent feedback helps these individuals to feel more confident in their abilities. Managers are often the ones to feed down positive feedback, while not receiving this themselves, so creating a culture where the entire office provides encouragement for their co-workers and peers can be beneficial for everyone. Raise awareness Human resources can play an important role in helping individuals with imposter syndrome. Raising awareness of the
Create supportive business cultures To help those with imposter syndrome, it’s important to create a supportive business culture where individuals feel supported and safe to make mistakes. Encourage individuals to be open about their mistakes
If you’d like some help in overcominyour ‘imposter monster’ or would like to offer some support to your employees, visit https://ow.ly/uA1250PKIg1 to book a free discovery call.
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| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward |
Issue 94 | October 2023
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