Kicking Imposter Syndrome to the Curb

I remember the feeling of starting a new job. While it’s so exciting to get the offer that I worked hard for, the beginning is always overwhelming. Stepping into a new unfamiliar environment, trying to learn how to do the job, and meeting a constant stream of new people whose names I can barely remember after being introduced is daunting. All this, all at once has led me to that feeling in my gut. That feeling of anxiety that says “I don’t think I belong here” or "how am I ever going to get through this?!"....

Submitted for the consideration of the Midday Society:

The Tale of the Imposter Syndrome

The reality is, we all struggle with insecurities that spring up during the cycle of our career. This means, more than likely someone around you is going through it. Building and demonstrating confidence is a vital practice in the workplace. It takes active work to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Often, people don’t dedicate time to work on this skillset.

Just like learning a musical instrument or a competitive sport, the work never ends when it comes to building your outward and inward confidence. I had to learn over time to give myself grace and to be comfortable with the unknown. After some time, I will know the inner workings of the organization and I will be able to confidently lead meetings with intention and conviction. It’s all about taking the right steps to set myself up for success. And to be comfortably confident in not knowing things because it’s temporary. 

This skillset can make the difference between earning a promotion or winning the new business pitch and being overlooked.

These effective techniques can help you project confidence 

• Dress the Part: Most times, looking the part helps to organically boost internal confidence and helps with how others perceive you.
• Prepare and Practice: Whether it's a presentation or a meeting, knowing your material inside and out will allow you to speak confidently and answer questions with ease. 
• Active Listening: Engage attentively in conversations. Ask thoughtful questions and provide relevant input. Active listening demonstrates your engagement and fosters a confident image.
• Positive Self-Talk: Cultivate a positive inner dialogue. Remind yourself of your accomplishments and skills. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, reinforcing a confident mindset. 
• Speak Clearly and Slowly: Avoid rushed speech and fillers like "um" and "uh." Speaking clearly and at a moderate pace can make you sound more composed and self-assured. Ahead of a big meeting, try recording and listening back to an audio of yourself presenting the content. It improves my talking points 10X even though it feels awkward at first. You'll thank me later.

Confidence is a skill that can be developed over time by anyone (whether they are naturally confident or not). Incorporating these tips into daily or weekly routines will help you to project confidence. Create time to practice building your confidence and and stick to it. You will see progress.