Stop trying to fight your imposter syndrome. Do this instead.

I imagine imposter syndrome as a beast with gnarled claws and glowing crimson eyes. It smirks through fangs longer than your entire hand. It’s adorned by shiny green scales, bat wings, and twisted horns.

Most people tell you to defeat it. But they give you “swords” too blunt for imposter syndrome’s leathery hide.

Typical tips include “stop being a perfectionist”, “be confident”, and “stop doubting yourself.”

None of them will ever work.

Just ask Neil Gaiman, a brilliant, prolific modern English writer.

Neil Gaiman tells his story:

Some years ago, I was lucky enough [to be] invited to a gathering of great and good people: artists and scientists, writers and discoverers of things. And I felt that at any moment they would realise that I didn’t qualify to be there, among these people who had really done things.

On my second or third night there, I was standing at the back of the hall, while a musical entertainment happened, and I started talking to a very nice, polite, elderly gentleman about several things, including our shared first name*. And then he pointed to the hall of people, and said words to the effect of, “I just look at all these people, and I think, what the heck am I doing here? They’ve made amazing things. I just went where I was sent.”

And I said, “Yes. But you were the first man on the moon. I think that counts for something.”

And I felt a bit better. Because if Neil Armstrong felt like an imposter, maybe everyone did. Maybe there weren’t any grown-ups, only people who had worked hard and also got lucky and were slightly out of their depth, all of us doing the best job we could, which is all we can really hope for.

Befriend your imposter syndrome and ride it to the stars

If imposter syndrome pesters Neil Gaiman and Neil Armstrong, what chance do the rest of us have?

Try battling it to waste a lot of time and energy. Imposter syndrome never leaves.

Or, tame it. Grab it by the horns. Climb onto its back.

Fly with it to the stars.

Here’s how:

1 - Remember that imposter syndrome is a good thing.

Do you know who doesn’t get imposter syndrome?

Actual imposters. If you’re worried about being one, you’re probably not a fraud.

Who else doesn’t get imposter syndrome?

People who curl up under a fuzzy blanket in the centre of their comfort zone. People who treat the idea of trying something new like the idea of deliberately electrocuting themselves. People who refuse to continue improving their current talents and skills.

Don’t be afraid of imposter syndrome. Be afraid of not growing. Not learning. Not experiencing life.

2 - Talk to your imposter syndrome

Every day tell your imposter syndrome what you’ve accomplished. Include progress you’ve made that day, the past month, year, and what you’ve done since the beginning of your career.

Take out a piece of paper and your favourite pen/pencil.

Write out these accomplishments by hand. Read this list often.

Bonus: this process creates the skeleton of your CV. Use them to construct bullet points for each past job.

Then thank your imposter syndrome. It’s looking out for you. But you’ve got this. You’ll be okay.

We won’t escape imposter syndrome

So, embrace it as an ally. Let it keep you humble as you achieve great things in your dream career.

Of course, this isn't always so easy. To stay in control of your imposter syndrome, and use it to your advantage instead of being held back by it, you need to change the way you think. Imposter syndrome is born from universal natural cognitive biases.

That's why imposter syndrome is one of the common challenges our affordable Cognitive Behavioural Therapy based Coaching helps you tackle. Misulis Group gives you the necessary tools adapted from the scientifically proven principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Check out our For You program page for more information.