Impostor syndrome shows up differently for each season of the Career Growth Cycle.
You are currently in
SPRING SEASON
of the career growth cycle.
In the Spring Season, you've either started a new position or you're just about to take on a new role.
Your playbook is designed to help you feel confident that things are under control and that not only are you capable in this role, but that you can thrive.
The Career Growth cycle has four seasons:
- Spring: Starting a new job or position
- Summer: Deepening your expertise & leadership
- Autumn: Deciding on your next best step
- Winter: Actively seeking new opportunities
The Ditch Impostor Syndrome Playbook:
Spring Edition
Feel confident that you’ll rock your new position
When you’re in the spring season of your career, it's common to feel overwhelmed by your new role and wonder if you made the wrong decision. You excited for this next big move, but doubt starts creeping in whether you're truly ready.
You want to do amazing things in your career. You want to take on the next challenge.
You want to make meaningful impact.
And because you care so much, the fear of failure or making a mistake can create a “freeze” reaction. The difficulty occurs when self-doubt swirls in your brain.
Do any of these "client confessions" sound familiar?
- “Just got a new position and can't stop thinking, what if they think I'm better than I actually am? My resume is 100% true and accurate. But like, what if what if what if they misinterpreted something? What if I make a mistake? What if I fall on my face???"
- “I started a new job that's much more senior. Part of me feels like I don't deserve it, although I know I do. I even have my own office and I almost felt guilty about it!"
- “I was recently promoted but I keep having invasive thoughts that pretty soon they'll realize they made a mistake in hiring me because I’m not qualified."
Here's the thing...
You know in your heart of hearts that you're ready
for this challenge.
You were likely a subject matter expert who was ready to advance to a new challenge. And intellectually you know that the first three to six months of a new job is a massive growth experience.
There’s just this little bug in your brain that sometimes pokes you and says something like “what if you're not ready for this?”
At the end of the day, you’re here because you know that "impostor syndrome" is often your mind playing tricks on you.
And even when it's not simply in your mind... I'm here to tell you that there is a whole lot of unconscious bias that feeds into any self-doubt you're experiencing.
Here's what no one tells you about "impostor syndrome".
Impostor syndrome isn't just in your head.
It's also rooted in pervasive unconscious biases, systems of oppression and negative external messages.
Bottom line:
"impostor syndrome" is not your fault.
In fact... Impostor syndrome is completely understandable once we realize that sensitive professionals are caught between thoughts of self-doubt (which are incredibly common), pervasive bias and organizational fear of failure.
So let’s talk about three strategies to help you ditch impostor syndrome as you plan to take on a new challenge.
Strategy 1: Embrace a mastery mindset
When starting a new position, it's natural to be caught up in fear around how well it's going and whether you can handle it.
This is because you're being pulled into the performance zone, where the focus is on success and failure.
Instead, I want you to focus on getting into the learning zone, where your focus is on how much you're growing.
Check out this TedTalk to learn more about the learning zone:
When it comes to leadership growth, most skills can’t be perfect.
And they certainly can’t approach perfect before being imperfect.
You want to think about your effort and how much you’re developing, instead of whether you succeeded or failed.
You want to embrace imperfect.
When you catch yourself in those moments of self-doubt, I want you to repeat after me:
I am learning.
I am growing.
I am meant to be here.
STRATEGY 2: Connect with your values.
When you’re having impostor thoughts, you’re usually caught up in your head.
Overthinking, worrying, wondering what might go wrong and what people will think.
Instead, I want you to go back to your core values. Remind yourself of what motivates you to do what you’re doing. Use this to fuel yourself to push past the discomfort.
And also remember who you’re helping.
You are here for a reason. What you’re doing matters. Instead of letting your mind dwell on the fear of what might go wrong for you, focus on the impact you’re having on others.
Need help to identify your values?
Get my worksheet to identify your 5 core values.
The reason this works is because it focuses your brain on the positive, instead of your fears.
Thinking about your values gets you to think about how you want to show up in the world in a more powerful way.
Strategy 3: Let It Go.
I call this the Frozen approach to showing up powerfully.
The next time you start ruminating or feeling anxious about whether you’re going to make a mistake, channel your inner Elsa and start humming, “Let it go…. Let it go…”
Let go of the unreasonably high expectations you’re setting for yourself.
Let go of overthinking and beating yourself up for making a mistake.
Let go of worrying about what people might say if you trip up.
Instead -- embrace yourself for WHO YOU ARE.
>You are meant to be in the room.
>>You are meant to be at the table.
>>>You are meant to have your voice heard.
So get out there and step into a leadership position.
You’re meant to lead.
Hi, I'm Liz!
I'm a leadership & career development coach for purpose-driven professionals who dream of rising to executive level. I specialize in helping introverted, quiet and highly sensitive professionals feel confident speaking up for themselves…. even if they work in tough, fast-paced or stressful working environments.
My vision is that everyone should feel excited, motivated and proud of the work they do. Everyone deserves to have a meaningful career making an impact on the world around them. I also believe we need greater diversity in the rooms where decisions are being made.
We need your voice and your ideas. We need your presence. We need you.
I’m all about helping you feel energized, motivated and confident showing up with a powerful presence, no matter what chaos swirls around you.
I want you to advance your career with more joy, less stress and a whole lot of impact.
Everything I do is about helping you get there.
Wondering what's next?
I’m so thrilled to have you in my community. You can bookmark this page to come back for a reminder, and you're also going to get the results sent directly to your inbox.
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- Email #2: What makes you amazing
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Want to work with me more closely?
I run a group coaching program, the Powerful Presence Society. It's all about developing your leadership presence in a way that builds authentic relationships, enhances professional confidence and grows your strategic thinking skills. Learn about the program and book an enrollment call here!
We'd love to have you in the group
Want to binge listen to podcast episodes for the Spring Season?
Check out these recent episodes from UnRuley Leadership that are perfect for the Spring Season of the career growth cycle.