Faceless Phantoms: Dealing with Imposter Syndrome

Who do you think you are?

Why bother?

Where do you get off telling these people how to do anything?

These are the voices of strangers who sit on my shoulders and whisper in my ears. Faceless phantoms that want nothing but for me to fail. I hear them every time I sit at my keyboard. They echo every time I hit send.

You’ve heard the voices too. We all have. Imposter Syndrome is a universal experience. It is a symptom of success.

Remember, these faceless phantoms are liars. Instead of letting these doubts shut you down, use them as a reminder that you're growing, stretching, and pushing boundaries.

Everyone has moments where they feel like a fraud. Like they can’t POSSIBLY do what they have set out to do. What sets us all apart is what we do about it.

One secret to fighting these feelings off is to look at what you have already done. Leverage your past victories (no matter how small) and build yourself back up.

Leveraging Small Wins to Combat Impostor Syndrome

Every achievement, no matter how small, is a testament to your abilities and efforts. Recognizing and celebrating small wins can play a significant role in overcoming impostor syndrome. Here's how:

Affirmation: Every win, big or small, is an affirmation that you are competent and capable. By celebrating and internalizing small achievements, you build a reservoir of positive reinforcements that can counteract moments of doubt.

Building Momentum: Small wins act as stepping stones. Each success, when acknowledged, can propel you forward, creating a momentum that makes bigger challenges seem more achievable.

Reframing Perspective: Often, we tend to focus on what we haven't achieved. By actively acknowledging every win, we shift our focus from what's lacking to what's been accomplished.

Evidence Against Doubt: When impostor thoughts creep in, having a mental (or physical) list of small wins provides tangible evidence against self-doubt. It serves as a reminder that you've faced challenges before and emerged victorious.

By consistently integrating the habit of identifying and celebrating small wins, you'll find that moments of impostor syndrome become less daunting. Every achievement serves as a beacon of your capability, gradually dimming the shadows of doubt.

Something to Think About

"Our doubts are traitors" - William Shakespeare

This Week’s Main Quest

To truly understand your online presence, efficiency, and areas of improvement, a social media audit is essential. Follow these steps:

Inventory Your Profiles

List down all your social media accounts, including the ones you might have forgotten about. Ensure all profiles are consistent in branding and that you deactivate any unnecessary or outdated accounts.

This is a great opportunity to evaluate where you have planted your flag and to make sure you aren’t missing out on easy wins.

Examine Your Posting Frequency

Are you posting too often and overwhelming your followers, or too little and becoming forgettable? (I’ll bet money that you’re not posting enough. Lean into it and post more.)

Compare with Competitors

I know. I know. Asking you to compare yourself with others on imposter syndrome week seems contradictory. I get it. But, trust me on this one.

I’m not suggesting that you find the most successful people in your niche and mirror every move they make. I’m suggesting that you look at what your competition is doing to get insights into industry standards and potential areas of opportunity. You’ll find some interesting stuff. I promise.

Set Clear Goals for the Future

Based on your audit, set actionable goals for each platform. This could range from posting more video content to engaging with followers in the comments.

This Week’s Side Quest

Start a "Win Jar". Every time you achieve something, no matter how small, write it down on a piece of paper and put it in the jar. When you're feeling like an impostor, pull out a few notes to remind yourself of your capabilities and accomplishments.

Something to Remember

While impostor syndrome may make you feel alone in a sea of perceived experts, remember that even the most accomplished professionals have faced, and continue to face the same doubts. The presence of such feelings often signifies that you're on the brink of growth, learning, and evolution. Instead of pushing these feelings away, embrace them, understand them, and let them guide you toward becoming even better at what you do.