New jobs are always daunting. Impostor Syndrome is on the rise, and very real. 

Feeling like you don’t belong, you’re in too deep, or that peers will catch you out for being a fraud? Well, you’re not alone – that feeling is more common than you think!

We’re here to talk you through what Impostor Syndrome really is, and how to tackle your self-doubt and avoid subsequent burnout from bending over backwards in your new job.

What is Impostor Syndrome?

Impostor Syndrome manifests as self-perceived fraudulence, thinking your achievements are not your own or down to sheer luck. Impostor Syndrome also defines anxieties surrounding inadequacy. 

Despite it causing an overwhelming sense of loneliness, it’s actually estimated that 70% of people will experience Impostor Syndrome at some point in their lifetime. Those who experience generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) most commonly experience IS.

There are 5 types of people that have been defined as a result of feeling the twang of Impostor Syndrome, including:

‘The Perfectionist’ – those of us who set high expectations and often unrealistic goals are at a high risk of IS. By focusing on how you do things and your capability to achieve, you may feel as though you’re under-performing. Your constant self-criticism may lead to feelings of failure, even for minuscule mistakes. 

‘The Expert’ – defines the group of us that require to know every single piece of information before we can start our work. This overwhelms your workload and delay deadlines. You may not have time to complete the actual task at hand. ‘Experts’ may have a fear of giving input to avoid getting an answer wrong and appearing ‘stupid’.

‘The Natural Genius’ – things come naturally to this group. There isn’t a skill, hobby, or task that they can’t pick up in an instant… for the most part. Unfortunately, this makes those instances something doesn’t come to you with little effort overwhelming, causing you to give up altogether. This belief that you are competent in everything right away causes self-doubt and possibly even embarrassment.

‘The Superhero’ – pushing yourself harder so there is absolutely no chance of people perceiving you as an impostor. Your success and accomplishments are strongly tied to how you view your competence. You feel the need to go above and beyond to prove yourself in every aspect of life, which is exhausting.

 ‘The Soloist’ – are you a lone worker, that can do everything themselves? It might be that you view needing advice or help as ‘weak’, making you unworthy. By asking for or accepting help when it’s offered, you see yourself as a failure or fraud. 

How does IS Present Itself in the Workplace?

Due to IS causing an overwhelming sense of self-doubt, it often has workers questioning their competence in their job role. Impostor Syndrome is most prevalent in new starters or recent promotions.

As result, those who are subjected to Imposter Syndrome may feel the need to overcompensate. This can lead to employees overworking leading to physical and/or emotional burnout.

Imposter Syndrome may also affect your efficiency levels. Extra research or struggling to reach out for aid may delay your task and require you to push back deadlines.

Feelings of incompetence or inadequacy might even prevent you from opportunities you’re more than capable of. You might not put yourself forward for that dream job or promotion just because you don’t fit the full criteria. You fear the potential of rejection!

How does IS Affect a Speech and Language Therapist?

Impostor Syndrome is common with NQPs particularly, as it most often presents itself when you have new responsibilities. Even recently promoted senior SLTs will feel the effects of IS!

Research shows that IS most commonly presents itself within the female population. As Speech and Language Therapy is a a female-dominated profession, many SLTs will recognise these symptoms. 

In a healthcare setting, these feelings are particularly prominent in the workplace. You may often find yourself comparing yourself to how much patients are achieving, as well as how other SLTs may be performing. 

This may lead to you holding back to some degree, possibly not wanting to offer a diagnosis in case you’re wrong, or being unwilling to set smart targets at risk of failure to help your patient to achieve them. 

The most important thing to remember is this is what you trained for! 

How to Tackle Impostor Syndrome?

The most important thing you can do is to recognise that you are feeling the effects of Impostor Syndrome. Accepting it allows you to take steps to cool off the symptoms and begin to feel comfortable in your new role.

Talk to someone about what you’re feeling. Your line manager or peers will most likely advise you they felt the exact same way when they started! Building a relationship with those around you will create a support network. You’ll feel less reluctant to ask for help and bond with your colleagues over a shared experience.

Give yourself credit, even for small successes. You may find yourself negating your experiences, but you should be celebrating! Every smart target, or a small step towards achieving a smart target, is something to be proud of.

Question your self-doubt. What makes you feel like you are incompetent? Find the budding cause of your insecurity and question its validity! Are you genuinely bad at your job, or have you experienced a minor setback? Take note and use it to move forward.

Even though it’s difficult, don’t compare yourself to your peers. You have all gone through the same training and were selected for the job – meaning you’re equally as skilled. In the case that you see your colleague or line manager is better at a certain job, don’t be scared to reach out and ask for help. 

Finally, don’t hold yourself back just because the little voice in your head says so. You are competent and experienced, and doing something that you love! Nothing should prevent you from achieving your goals – perseverance is key. 

Whilst Impostor Syndrome may not go entirely, the symptoms will fade and become easier to manage over time. 

Think of Starting a Career at Chatterbug?

We’d love to have you! At Chatterbug, you have the opportunity to be part of a team that goes above and beyond to support you, your ideas, and your goals. Just check out our values:

As an employee of Chatterbug, you can receive private counselling that’s completely confidential to help you overcome these feelings. 

You can check out our available opportunities on our careers page and join a team where you’ll feel inspired and supported.