Imposter Syndrome: how to overcome it
The other day, I was nervous before an online workshop that I was about to facilitate. Thoughts like “What if I don’t know enough? What if I don’t have what it takes to be a workshop facilitator on that topic? What if I don’t deliver enough value to the attendees? Who am I to think I can pull this off? ” came up. A clear case of the imposter syndrome. Despite having had success in facilitating previous workshops and having been on stage as a keynote speaker frequently, self-doubts crept up.
I figured I can combat it on three levels:
Me: Remind myself that it’s just my ego that is freaking out, that I’m human and I don’t need to be perfect. It’s impossible to know it all for anybody and it’s OK to not know an answer or make a mistake. Showing up is the only way I can practice my skills, learn and grow.
Others: Remind myself that the attendees are not there to judge me, but to learn something. I wish to share with them what I know, even if I don’t know as much as THE most sought-after expert in the world. Knowledge alone won’t inspire people to act. I’ll share my story and vibes, and encourage and inspire them. Maybe one person needs to hear it exactly the way I put it, from me. It’s not about me, it’s about them.
The bigger mission: remind myself about my purpose and the difference I want to make in the world. Unless I show up, as imperfect as I might be, I can’t contribute to the cause I care about.
I know I’ll never feel 100% ready. I haven’t felt ready when I was asked to give my TEDxTalk. I’m happy I did it anyway.
It’s normal to be nervous before speaking in front of an audience. Even professional actors, athletes and speakers are nervous before going on stage. It’s not about not having the fear, it’s about: how do you handle it?
Have you experienced cases of imposter syndrome? How have you battled it? Let me know.
