Did you recently land your first “real adult” job? If so, you might be feeling some imposter syndrome creeping in. When you’re less experienced than some of your coworkers, it’s easy to feel like you’re not good enough for the job.
However, we all know this isn’t true! Imposter syndrome is a state of mind we can conquer with some changes in how we view ourselves and the people around us. So here are five ways to combat imposter syndrome at work.
1. Reflect on how you got to this position.
If you’re in this new position, chances are you’ve earned it through hard work! Think about where you’ve been and all you’ve gone through to get to this point. You’re allowed to be proud of yourself and your accomplishments!
And reflecting on these past accomplishments will be a friendly reminder that you’ve been hired for a reason. Employers usually don’t hire just anyone in today’s tough job market! So while you shouldn’t let early successes go to your head, you have every right to feel good about them.
2. Ask for advice and find a mentor.
Being in a position where most of your coworkers have more experience than you is a blessing in disguise — you have an entire wellspring of knowledge just waiting for you. So don’t be afraid to take advantage of it by asking for advice.
Most of the time, people love to talk about themselves and their experiences. This is an excellent opportunity to soak in all of their tips and tricks. The more knowledge you have, the less imposter syndrome will affect you!
And if you get along well enough with one of these coworkers, they might be willing to be a mentor for you. Having people in your corner who care about your success will do wonders for your self-confidence.
3. Take all constructive criticism seriously.
It can be embarrassing to receive criticism from your more experienced coworkers or your managers. However, if you take it as a learning experience and apply it to your next assignment, you’ll only improve! And continuous improvement will make the feeling of imposter syndrome shrink more and more.
4. Try out some small talk.
Talking about work isn’t the only way to make connections at your job. For example, having conversations about everyday topics with your coworkers is a great way to get to know them in a more casual context.
Knowing your coworkers on this level will help you think of them more as colleagues than superiors. Plus, thinking of them in this light will help lessen your imposter syndrome. After all, they’re just people who were once in the same position as you. So who says you can’t get there too?
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
When experiencing imposter syndrome, it’s easy to feel like asking for help is the same as admitting you’re inadequate. However, it’s quite the opposite!
People like to see that you care enough about your job that you make sure you’re getting everything right. So, avoid potential mistakes by asking for help when you’re unsure about something.
Though you might feel bad about bothering someone in the moment, it will pay off in the future.
Imposter syndrome affects the best of us, telling us we’re not good enough to be where we are in life. But just remember you’re the reason for your success. And if you continue with that mentality, you can accomplish even more!
Feature Image by ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash
