The stress of the pandemic and the lack of connection we have endured in the last few years has left many of us susceptible to several mental health challenges.

The stress of the pandemic and the lack of connection we have endured in the last few years has left many of us susceptible to several mental health challenges. One of these is imposter syndrome. This might lead one to feel as if one needs to be a perfectionist or to sacrifice one’s own well-being to get more or better work done, which leads to burn out. By empowering women with more tools and knowledge, we could build corporate environment that fosters a sense of belonging and lessens the experience of imposter syndrome for women in our workplaces as well as in households.

Aims and Objectives

The chief objective of this article is to heighten the awareness of emotional challenges that women face in workplace or in households. This could be done by exploring the deep sense of purpose in them, which ignites motivation, resilience and creativity in combating the feeling of flaws, fears and self-doubt. Most of the feelings that come with imposter syndrome are normally a part of anyone’s professional career. Major changes like graduating college, starting a new job, or receiving our first promotion can make us feel uncomfortable, anxious or unsure of ourselves or our abilities. So, this keynote also serves as a reminder that it is through developing confidence that one can break free from barriers and challenges that hinder professional growth and can finally escape from the imposter syndrome.

The recent research of KPMG finds that 75% of female executives across different industries have experienced imposter syndrome. The term “impostor syndrome” refers to the notion that some individuals feel as if they ended up in esteemed roles and positions not because of their competencies, but because of some oversight or stroke of luck. Therefore, it is important to accommodate skills advancement in organizations to facilitate the workforce, which will help them in identifying and challenging their negative thoughts and beliefs through implementing advanced career coaching and training techniques. Educating and raising awareness will encourage strategies for turning behavioral and cognitive distortions into opportunities to communicate, collaborate and engage in a well-being state. This is also for encouraging the women to think critically on the importance of identifying and challenging the approach of imposter syndrome in any role they perform within the workplace.

Tools and Techniques to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

In order to overcome Imposter Syndrome, one might come across plenty of tools and techniques. Among these, one of the best working techniques is to control it by being aware of and escaping the Drama Triangle. It is also known as Karpman’s Triangle, as given by psychiatrist Stephen B. Karpman. It is a social model related to human interactions and demonstrates a dominance contest that is composed of three roles: Victim, Rescuer and Persecutor. Each role responds to the conflict in a different way. The Victim being the feeble, dependent and blaming one, the Rescuer being the over provider and the persecutor being the over critical one: all work against a person’s self growth. These roles could be found in both forms: an outside person or inside thoughts. For escaping drama triangle, it is suggested to work along its “positive alternative” known as The Empowerment Triangle.This framework offers the replacements of the roles given in drama triangle. The Persecutor is replaced by the Challenger, the Creator replaces the Victim, and the Coach becomes the replacement for the Rescuer. These replacing roles then work in favour of personal growth.

Other techniques for battling out the imposter syndrome are acknowledging the negative feelings and addressing the cognitive disturbances contributing to them. Moreover, one could talk to a person of an understanding attitude and share with them what one thinks to be a negative contributor to their growth. Letting go of perfectionism, valueing one’s achievements and allowing compassion for one’s own self adds a good share in overcoming the imposter syndrome. Furthermore, one has to be mindful of the thing that imposter syndrome can take hold of them at any career shift and thus, this acceptance will help them throughout their life.

Conclusion

Management of imposter syndrome will help women in connecting, communicating, collaborating and cooperating with each other to raise awareness of the cognitive distortions for creating mental fitness and balance in work life. To combat the syndrome in organizations, as well as in individuals, some more tools and techniques of systemic change could be recommended, along with the given one. These include exploring the interventions of imposter syndrome, critically reflecting on growth mindset and thus becoming a changemaker by joining the efforts to build connections and collaborations to create psychological safety. This will consequently create diversity, inclusivity and a safe space for the individuals in the organization.

Sabah Aqil
Owner/Founder of Inner Voice, Executive Coach