OVERCOMING THE IMPOSTER SYNDROME

OVERCOMING THE IMPOSTER SYNDROME

Presenters SIKIRAT TIJANI, MRA, CRA ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, GRANTS AND CONTRACTS ANN & ROBERT H. LURIE CHILDREN S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO OFFICE OF SPONSORED PROGRAMS STANLEY MANNE CHILDREN S RESEARCH INSTITUTE STIJANI@LURIECHILDRENS.ORG 773.755.6335 TAMMY GOOD, MSM, CRA, CPRA ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE INDIANA CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCES INSTITUTE (CTSI) INDIANA UNIVERSITY TAJGOOD@IU.EDU 317.278.0060

OBJECTIVES 1.IDENTIFY IF YOU OR OTHERS HAVE THE IMPOSTER SYNDROME. 2. CREATE STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME THE IMPOSTER SYNDROME.

THE STRANGER (BILLY JOEL) WELL, WE ALL HAVE A FACE THAT WE HIDE AWAY FOREVER AND WE TAKE THEM OUT AND SHOW OURSELVES WHEN EVERYONE HAS GONE SOME ARE SATIN, SOME ARE STEEL SOME ARE SILK AND SOME ARE LEATHER THEY'RE THE FACES OF A STRANGER BUT WE'D LOVE TO TRY THEM ON

ARE YOU AN IMPOSTER?

WHAT IS IMPOSTER SYNDROME? (ALSO KNOWN AS IMPOSTER PHENOMENON, OR IP) PERSISTENT FEELINGS OF INADEQUACY THAT PERSIST DESPITE FACTUAL SUCCESS FEELINGS OF CHRONIC SELF-DOUBT AND INTELLECTUAL FRAUDULENCE THAT OVERRIDE ANY EXTERNAL INDICATORS OF SUCCESS INABILITY TO INTERNALIZE ACCOMPLISHMENTS COMMON AMONG HIGH ACHIEVING SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE SOME RESEARCHERS HAVE LINKED IT TO PERFECTIONISM 1

WHERE DOES THE IMPOSTER SYNDROME COME FROM? CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES A. SUBTLE AND NOT SO SUBTLE MESSAGES FROM PARENTS (E.G. RESPONSE TO ALL A S AND ONE B ON A REPORT CARD.) B. BEING LABELED AS THE SMART ONE OR THE TALENTED ONE IN THE FAMILY. FOR KIDS APPROVAL IS LIKE OXYGEN. THE ABSENCE OF PRAISE DURING CHILDHOOD CAN MAKE IT DIFFICULT AS AN ADULT TO OWN YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND FEEL DESERVING OF SUCCESS. 2 C. LIKEWISE, CONSTANT PRAISE MAY MAKE A PERSON FEEL UNDESERVING OF ANY PRAISE. (I.E., THEY LOVE EVERYTHING I DO BECAUSE I M THEIR KID.)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS 1. THINK BACK TO AN EARLY SUCCESS, SOMETHING THAT YOU WERE VERY PROUD OF? WHAT WAS YOUR RESPONSE? HOW DID OTHERS RESPOND? 2. THINK BACK TO AN EARLY FAILURE OR CHALLENGE. HOW DID YOU RESPOND?

OTHER FACTORS IN THE ORIGINS OF IMPOSTER SYNDROME WORKING IN AN ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE THAT FEEDS SELF-DOUBT WORKING ALONE FEELING LIKE AN OUTSIDER AT YOUR ORGANIZATION BEING A WOMAN: THE PLACES WERE WOMEN ARE MOST APT TO FEEL INCOMPETENT AND ILLEGITIMATE ARE IN THE PUBLIC SPHERES OF POWER AND AUTHORITY. REPRESENTING YOUR ENTIRE SOCIAL GROUP 3

DO YOU HAVE IMPOSTER SYNDROME? DOES A COLLEAGUE HAVE IMPOSTER SYNDROME? THREE MAIN SIGNS: 1. BELIEVING THAT ONE HAS FOOLED OTHERS INTO OVERESTIMATING ONE S OWN ABILTIES 2. ATTRIBUTING PERSONAL SUCCESS TO FACTORS OTHER THAN ONE S ABILITY OR INTELLIGENCE, SUCH AS LUCK, EXTRA WORK, CHARISMA, OR EVALUATOR S MISJUDGEMENT. 3. FEARING EXPOSURE AS AN IMPOSTER. 4

CLANCE IMPOSTER SCALE: HANDOUT THE IMPOSTOR TEST WAS DEVELOPED TO HELP INDIVIDUALS DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE IP CHARACTERISTICS AND, IF SO, TO WHAT EXTENT THEY ARE SUFFERING. AFTER TAKING THE IMPOSTOR TEST, ADD TOGETHER THE NUMBERS OF THE RESPONSES TO EACH STATEMENT. 40 OR LESS: FEW IMPOSTER CHARACTERISTICS 41-60: MODERATE IP EXPERIENCES 61-80: FREQUENTLY HAS IMPOSTOR FEELINGS HIGHER THAN 80: INTENSE IP EXPERIENCES. THE HIGHER THE SCORE, THE MORE FREQUENTLY AND SERIOUSLY THE IMPOSTOR PHENOMENON INTERFERES IN A PERSON S LIFE. 5

SEVEN COPING MECHANISMS 1. OVER PREPARING AND HARD WORK 2. HOLDING BACK 3. MAINTAINING A LOW OR EVER-CHANGING PROFILE 4. USE OF CHARM OR PERCEPTIVENESS TO WIN APPROVAL 5. PROCRASTINATION 6. NEVER FINISHING 7. SELF-SABOTAGE

REFLECTION QUESTIONS WHAT DOES MY BEHAVIOR HELP ME AVOID? (PROCRASTINATION, NEVER FINISHING, SELF-SABOTAGE) WHAT DOES MY BEHAVIOR PROTECT ME FROM? (MAINTAINING A LOW PROFILE, HOLDING BACK) WHAT DOES MY BEHAVIOR HELP ME GET? (OVER PREPARING AND HARD WORK, USE OF PERCEPTIVENESS) 6

ARE YOU A WORKAHOLIC? MANY IMPOSTERS ATTRIBUTE SUCCESS TO LONG HOURS THAT THEY MUST PUT IN BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AS SMART OR COMPETENT AS OTHERS. THE FEAR OF BEING FOUND OUT DRIVES IMPOSTERS TO STRIVE FOR PERFECTION AND WORK MORE EXCESSIVELY. HARD WORK DOES NOT BRING A SENSE OF PRIDE OR ACCOMPLISHMENT. IT HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED OF THE IMPOSTER TO WORK HARDER THAN OTHERS. THE WORK ETHIC DOES OFTEN LEAD TO ADDITIONAL SUCCESS AND THE IMPOSTER MUST KEEP THE CYCLE GOING.

WORKAHOLIC CYCLE THIS CYCLE OF EFFORT, SUCCESS, RECOGNITION AND PROMOTION FEEDS THE IMPOSTER S WORST FEAR AS IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT WITH ADVANCEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT THERE IS AN INCREASED CHANCE OF BEING FOUND OUT. THIS LEADS THE IMPOSTER TO SET IMPOSSIBLE GOALS AND TO WORK TIRELESSLY TO ACHIEVE THEM. ULTIMATELY, THE IMPOSTER FAILS IN THE ATTEMPT TO ACHIEVE THESE UNREACHABLE GOALS, LEADING TO INTENSE PERIODS OF SELF- INCRIMINATION FOR THE FAILURE. 7

THE IMPACT OF IMPOSTOR SYNDROME ON MY CAREER LESS CAREER PLANNING CREATE INTERIOR BARRIER TO ADVANCEMENT REDUCED JOB SATISFACTION LESS CAREER STRIVING AND WILLINGNESS TO TAKE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS SALARY LESS WILLING TO ASK FOR HIGHER SALARY IN NEGOTIATIONS LACK OF CAREER OPTIMISM REDUCED CAREER ADAPTABILITY AND RESILIENCY

THE IMPACT OF IMPOSTER SYNDROME ON MY ORGANIZATION REDUCTION IN ORGANIZATIONAL CITIZENSHIP BEHAVIOR BECAUSE OF LACK OF TIME/RESOURCES LACK OF PRIORITY FOR WORK-LIFE BALANCE BURN OUT REQUIREMENT FOR PERFECTION CAN BE PASSED ON TO COLLEAGUES/STAFF PROTECTION OF WORK THAT SHOULD BE DELEGATED OR SHARED DUE TO FEAR OF JUDGEMENT. DECISION-MAKING SKILLS IMPACTED BY FEAR OF FAILURE. 8,9

OVERCOME IMPOSTER SYNDROME RECOGNIZE IMPOSTER FEELINGS WHEN THEY EMERGE REWRITE MENTAL PROGRAMS REFRAME FAILURE AS A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY TALK ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS VISUALIZE YOUR SUCCESS 10

OVERCOME IMPOSTER SYNDROME: FAKE IT TIL YOU MAKE IT YOUR TASK IS TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOU COME ACROSS AS CREDIBLE, HOW YOU CONVEY YOUR COMPETENCY TO OTHERS, AND HOW YOU COMMUNICATE YOUR IDEAS IN AN AUTHENTIC WAY. 10 TRICK YOURSELF OUT OF A STATE OF SELF-DOUBT FRAME A CHALLENGE NOT AS A THREAT, BUT AS AN OPPORTUNITY THINK OF MAKING SMALL INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS IN YOUR PERFORMANCE WATCH AND LEARN FROM OTHER LEADERS

TIPS FROM AN IMPOSTER 1. Write an affirmation on a note card or in your notebook, somewhere where you will see it readily. No seriously do it. Read and repeat when you have negative feelings to retrain the Brain. Example: I am strong, I am competent, I am loving, and I am loved. 2. Keep a journal of accomplishments and learning opportunities. Track your feelings. Refer back to issues you thought were devastating at the time, to see how they turned out.

TIPS FROM AN IMPOSTER 3. YOU MAY NEVER FULLY EMBRACE WORK-LIFE BALANCE, BUT BE SURE TO ALLOW OTHERS TO EMBRACE IT. ALSO, TRY TO INCORPORATE A LITTLE WORK-LIFE BALANCE INTO EVERY DAY, OR AT LEAST EVERY WEEK. 4. IMPOSTER SYNDROME CAN MORPH INTO DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY OR MAKE EXISTING MENTAL CONDITIONS WORSE. SEEK THE HELP OF A THERAPIST, PSYCHOLOGIST/ PSYCHIATRIST.

SCENARIO #1 YOU MAKE A ROOKIE MISTAKE AT WORK, BUT IT IS EASILY CORRECTED. WHAT IS YOUR REACTION? A. OOPS. OH WELL, IT S FIXED NOW. B. I SHOULDN T HAVE MADE SUCH A STUPID MISTAKE. I LL BE MORE CAREFUL IN THE FUTURE. C. I AM SO STUPID. I CAN T BELIEVE THAT I M WORKING IN THIS POSITION. WHO HIRED ME FOR THIS JOB? THEY MUST NOT HAVE REALIZED HOW INCOMPETENT I AM. (ONGOING OBSESSIVE THOUGHTS ABOUT MY STUPIDITY...)

SCENARIO #2 YOU RECEIVE A PROMOTION AT WORK. TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THIS? A. HARD WORK B. SKILL C. PERSEVERANCE D. LUCK E. LIKE-ABILITY F. INCOMPETENCE HAS BEEN UNNOTICED/UNRECOGNIZED

SCENARIO #3 YOU WORK LONG HOURS AT WORK, LONGER THAN MOST OF YOUR CO- WORKERS. WHY? A. I AM COMMITTED TO MY ORGANIZATION. B. I NEED TO IN ORDER TO GET THE WORK DONE. C. I M NOT AS GOOD OR AS SMART AS OTHERS, SO I NEED TO WORK HARDER.

"YOUR FEAR OF BEING INADEQUATE PALES COMPARED WITH YOUR FEAR OF BEING EXTRAORDINARY. 11

QUESTIONS

THANK YOU!

REFERENCES CITED 1 CORKINDALE, G. (2008). OVERCOMING IMPOSTER SYNDROME. HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW, RETRIEVED 4/12/18 FROM HTTPS://HBR.ORG/2008/05/OVERCOMING-IMPOSTER- SYNDROME. 2, 3, 6 YOUNG, VALERIE (2011). THE SECRET THOUGHTS OF SUCCESSFUL WOMEN. NEW YORK, RANDOM HOUSE. 4 CLARK, M., VARDEMAN, K., & BARBA, S. (2014). PERCEIVED INADEQUACY: A STUDY OF THE IMPOSTER PHENOMENON AMONG COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIANS. COLLEGE & RESEARCH LIBRARIES, 75(3), 255-271. 5 CLANCE IMPOSTER SCALE. FROM THE IMPOSTOR PHENOMENON: WHEN SUCCESS MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE A FAKE (PP. 20-22), BY P.R. CLANCE, 1985, TORONTO: BANTAM BOOKS. COPYRIGHT 1985 BY PAULINE ROSE CLANCE. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION. DO NOT REPRODUCE WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM PAULINE ROSE CLANCE, DRPAULINEROSE@COMCAST.NET.

REFERENCES CITED 7 PARKMAN, A., & BEARD, R. (2008). SUCCESSION PLANNING AND THE IMPOSTER PHENOMENON IN HIGHER EDUCATION. CUPA-HR JOURNAL, 59(2), 29-36. 8 NEUREITER, M., & TRAUT-MATTAUSCH, E. (2016). INSPECTING THE DANGERS OF FEELING LIKE A FAKE: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE IMPOSTOR PHENOMENON IN THE WORLD OF WORK. FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY, 7, 1445. HTTP://DOI.ORG.PROXY.ULIB.UITS.IU.EDU/10.3389/FPSYG.2016.01445 9 KETS DE VRIES, M. R. (2005). THE DANGERS OF FEELING LIKE A FAKE. HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW, 83(9), 108-116. 10 KNIGHT, R. (2016). HOW TO FAKE IT WHEN YOU'RE NOT FEELING CONFIDENT. HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW DIGITAL ARTICLE S, 2-6.