What is Imposter Syndrome?

What is Imposter Syndrome?

What is “Imposter Syndrome”?

Many people may think it’s when you’re pretending to be someone else, not being yourself, that you are being an IMPOSTER; not the real deal, a pretender, artificial. And therefore they are going to get caught out and someone is going to tap them the shoulder and say …”move along sunshine, we’re onto you”. At which point ….life ends and what on earth will you do for a living then?

So let’s look at this “syndrome”. How it can have manifested itself in your mind and then a way of thinking, believing and behaving?

Do you remember your first ever game of football, hockey, rounders, rugby or netball. You watched first then you did what? You imagined yourself doing it as you’d seen it, then you copied, then you measured yourself against the person you were observing for technique, then the ball is rolling (so to speak) you keep doing the same moves, waiting for someone to “correct” you and so you play with one eye looking over your shoulder….for someone at some point to say…”hang on – that technique is wrong” ….. until you start hearing applause for doing it right, maybe even scoring some match points.

Now fast forward a few years …maybe quite a few years, but the first job you ever got. Had you ever done it before? No, but your mind says “its ok – we’ve got this, let’s do the same as we did when you learnt that sport (this chatting in your head does happen, but very very quickly until it is an automatic approach). You watched, observed, played it in your head, then you had a go. No-one course corrected you and then you repeated but still with the feeling of “Is this right? Can anyone tell that I’ve not done this before?”

Then for each role you go for you now have a “model” of thinking that has worked …..

Here it is,  your practised mind set;
Physical – Observe
Mind – “Can I actually do this? I’ll watch first, then decide”
Mind – Imagines self doing the same actions taken from the observation.
Physical – You do the same actions whilst measuring yourself against the person you observed.
Mind – “Am I going to get caught out doing this wrong?”

Physical – Keep looking over my shoulder

The above is called a model of behaviour that then becomes automatic, a habit, and lives in your unconscious mind. Now it goes unchecked by your conscious mind.

I have noticed over the years there are a very high percentage of sales people checking over their shoulder as a habit rather than a need.

Ok, so here’s the thing, are you a runner? Ever thought what it would be like to run looking backwards instead of forwards where your target is? Well I am sure you can imagine how it impacts on your mindset, your internal dialogue, how it cements in a belief you have about yourself and above all what does it do your speed, strength and performance time?

I only ever hear from the most conscientious people that they are worried they are not good enough, or they were hired by accident or other people are better than them, so in my opinion from observing the mindset data of the people who expressed that they are an Imposter just ask yourself, “When is the time to trust myself?”.

Self trust is the key to flying high and fast with courage….facing forwards towards your goal …not tripping, stalling, shouting over the top of your self doubt and having an internal dialogue of being battered by own inner self critic.

To find out more, download the free eBook The Truth about Imposter Syndrome (full copy)