How To Get Rid of Impostor Syndrome When Running Your Business

Feelings of doubt and inadequacy are completely normal, and we’re very likely to experience them at least once at some point in our lives.

That said, though, if you are still battling them when you’re doing a great job can mean you might be suffering from impostor syndrome. If you find yourself telling yourself or others that the only reason you’ve come so far is due to sheer luck or if you’ve ever wondered if you and your business are a fraud, here are some tips that will help you get rid of impostor syndrome when running your business.

How To Get Rid of Impostor Syndrome When Running Your Business

Know you’re not alone

One of the worst things that have happened to impostor syndrome is… getting a name! The term is very new, and it wasn’t until we started using it that we realized that so many people around us, even those we might look up to, feel like impostors too.

You’re not alone in this and recognizing that it’s extremely normal to feel it is the first and most important step to overcoming it. This is especially true for women, who are more prone to suffering from impostor syndrome. You might be one of the first women doing what you’re doing, so it’s extremely natural to feel as if you don’t belong sometimes.

Recognizing that what you’re feeling is a normal response to your experience can not only help you get rid of the problem, but you can even turn it into something empowering!

Recognize the signs

Recognizing that we’re experiencing impostor syndrome can be hard, but once you learn the signs, it becomes so much easier to acknowledge.

Watch out for the following thoughts:

• Feeling as though you just “got lucky”.
• Feeling as though you could have done better if you had only ____.
• Having trouble accepting compliments or praise.
• Avoiding expressing your accomplishments out of fear of sounding cocky to others.

These are just a few, but make sure you pay close attention to the thoughts that run through your mind, especially when someone compliments you or your career wins. If you’ve had any of the thoughts above, ask yourself where they come from and whether or not you’re being fair to yourself and your efforts.

Let go of perfectionism

Perfectionism is a sign that you’re a go-getter, but learning to accept that there is simply not enough time to get everything “just right” is one of the most freeing things you can do for your mental health and your business.

Develop a new approach to failure

Failure is completely normal. Things don’t always work out the way we thought they would, but that doesn’t mean you or your business is a fraud. Instead of beating yourself up for mistakes, find a new approach – remember that mistakes can be opportunities to learn, and the only real failure out there is not even trying. It might not seem like it in the moment but I’ve failed enough to know to keep moving forward and accept those lessons. They only make you better. 

Stop comparing yourself to others

A lot of times, impostor syndrome develops from comparing ourselves to other people’s achievements. This isn’t just unproductive, but it can also be extremely toxic to our sense of self-worth.

Even though we actually encourage getting inspiration from other people’s success and praising them for their hard-earned achievements, that doesn’t mean you have to strive to be exactly where they are at this exact moment.

You can’t compare your chapter one to someone else’s chapter twenty. Perhaps they started earlier than you or they simply had more tools available than you did. Plus, you don’t know what they’ve sacrificed and how they’ve struggled and failed. You’re only seeing a small fraction of their effort. Whatever it is, focus on YOUR goals and YOUR business, because ultimately, it’s all that really matters.