Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Dani A, Brittany Cripe, Jessica Brooks

• Have you ever felt like you’re a fraud/fake
• Like you’re going to be found out at anytime
• Like you don’t deserve the recognition you get?
• Like everyone will figure out that you don’t belong
• Like you just got lucky?
• What is imposter syndrome and how can you combat it?
• Ted Talk - Maya Angelou
• Why can’t we shake feelings that we haven’t earned our accomplishments?
• Imposter phenomenon, Imposter experience, Imposter Syndrome
• Pluralistic Ignorance
• Intense feelings of imposterism can stop people from voicing ideas
• You have talent, you are capable, and you belong.
• Impostor syndrome is a term used to describe feelings of insecurity of self-doubt, despite there being no evidence to support such a belief
• 70% of the population feel a sense of imposterism
• The more skilled you are the more you feel like a fraud - Dunning-Kruger Effect
• Test to group of students - those who thought they did bad, actually did very well 
• The opposite happened to those who thought they did well
• What imposter syndrome can feel like
• Perception vs. reality
• What I know, what I think others know
• What I know, what others know
• The Perfectionist - I should deliver a perfect performance 100% of the time
• The expert - If I were really smart, I would already know everything I need to know about this
• The soloist - I believe that true competence is equal to my own, unassisted achievements, I must do everything myself
• The superperson - If I were really competent, I would be able to do it all, and do it easily and well
• The great mind
• Step 1:  Facilitated Small Group Discussions
• When have you experienced imposter syndrome? (or connected with someone who has experienced it)
• What did you/they do to overcome that feeling? (share tips, tricks, and strategies that worked for you/them!
• What are the key points (a-ha’s!) that you can report out?
• Step 2: Report OUt to the larger group
• Step 3: discussion
• Feedback: Share your “A-ha’s!”
• Admit not to have an answer
• Talk to peers that can cheer you up
• Prepare, Prepare, Prepare +1
• Capturing steps when issues arise to discover
• Writing down your accomplishments
• Being aware that other people are feeling this too
• Look for ways that lift people up
• Make connections with people around you
• Don’t compare with the people around you
• Look back to similar experiences
• Change your own self-talk
• Write down 5 small wins every day (could be really small wins)
• Helped me to realize 
• Remember that even if you feel like you don’t have all the info, trust yourself to figure it out
• Reflect on previous achievements
• Asking for help 
• Making a plan - recognizing i feel this way but I’m going to make a plan to change it
• Get enough sleep - when you take care of yourself you fell more confident with more help
• We had a couple SuperPersons in the group
• I’m a recovering perfectionist
• “Perfect is the enemy of good.”
• Call it done and move on
• We’re all human and we all make mistakes
• Embrace our strengths - don’t apologize for having a clue
• Track and validate - pick 3 things in the day that worked
• Appreciate the feedback, especially when it’s positive
• Embrace it
• Having a really good support system - that you can talk to others to help lift you up
• Be more gentle on yourself
• Focus on strengths
• Treat the audience like friends
• For my dad:  (how I got placed in school) “When you’re the smartest person in the class, the only person you can learn from the teacher.  When you’re the dumbest in the class, you learn from everyone.
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• Overcoming Imposterism: top 10

1. Embrace your strengths
2. Build a brag book
3. Have a buddy, 
4. Have a plan
5. Attribute your success to YOU
6. Avoid comparing yourself
7. Reward yourself
8. Track and validate it
9. Have a growth mindset
10. Accept that you are a work in progress

You have talent.  You are capable.  You belong.
Jot down your key takeaway