One of my go-to experts on impostor syndrome is Dr. Valerie Young. Through her research on this topic, she identified five different competence types and how they specifically struggle with impostor syndrome. The five types are:
- The Perfectionist
- The Expert
- The Soloist
- The Natural Genius
- The Superwoman/Superman/Super Student
In Dr. Young’s book, The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women, she says, “Every impostor on the planet has a distorted view of competence. However, not all impostors skew it the same way. To show you what I mean, I’d like you to take a moment now to complete the following sentences with the first thing that pops into your head:
- I’ll know I’m competent at __________________________ when ________________________________________.
- If I were really smart, _____________________________________________________________________________.
- I should always ___________________________________________________________________________________.
- If I were really qualified, I would __________________________________________________________________.
The answers to these questions tell you a lot about your competence type and arms you with insights you need to stop Impostor Syndrome in its tracks.
One of the best ways to stop impostor syndrome is to adopt an innovation mindset and form habits that will set you up for career success. And this week’s feature article gives you some tips for unleashing innovation in your career. We’re also explaining more about how you can think more innovatively, and the habits you need to adopt to be The Innovative Admin™ on our Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages.
Dr. Young says, “The only way to stop feeling like an impostor is to stop thinking like an impostor.” Choosing the innovation mindset is the first step in transforming how you see yourself and your accomplishments, and recognizing what a talented and skilled professional you truly are!
Supporting your administrative success,
Julie Perrine
P.S. Do you ever feel like you’re not doing enough – even though your executive and team would be lost without you? Does self-doubt keep you from asking for a promotion or taking on big projects? Are you guilty of negative self-talk that diminishes your confidence and undermines your key skills? Sound familiar? You may suffer from Impostor Syndrome. This webinar will help you stop impostor syndrome. Click here for your free preview.
