Dealing With Imposter Syndrome During A Pandemic

Jan 07, 2022 | Ebru Yildirim

The uncertainties and anxieties brought about by the pandemic have had tremendous impacts on a person’s psyche, from feelings of self-doubt to worthlessness. Imposter syndrome is where a person constantly doubts their abilities and feels like a fraud. It can negatively affect high-achieving people at work, who find it difficult to accept their achievements. Dealing with this syndrome during this unprecedented time is challenging, but it can be managed through a handful of ways. Acknowledge Your Feelings One of the best ways to deal with imposter syndrome during the pandemic is to admit you're struggling with it and that you may not be the only one who has this issue. Acknowledge that the pandemic impacts the working life of everyone around the world, and that the disorientation we feel is normal, especially at a time when everyone is required to engage in unfamiliar tasks and ways of being. It's best to identify the things or factors that trigger your negative feelings about your work approach. Acknowledging them can help you understand the exact problems you need to address. If you have a difficult time understanding what makes you feel like an imposter at work, getting the help of a career coach is the best choice. Check-In With Friends Or Colleagues While being in touch with colleagues or friends at work is not always possible in a remote-work setting, it's important to be able to openly communicate these feelings to people at work. This will help you understand if other people feel the same as you and that it is normal for you to feel so. Moreover, having this open line of communication with your colleagues helps lessen any stigma you may feel about the issues you’re going through. Take A Chance On Yourself The pandemic has taken us out of our comfort zones, making it challenging to approach new opportunities or chances because of the fear of the unknown and lack of self-confidence. This can easily keep a person behind progress and lead to unproductivity. One of the best ways to address this is to take chances. Many people who undergo career coaching to combat imposter syndrome say that their greatest fulfillment came from taking chances on big challenges and overcoming obstacles. Because of the pandemic, employers are more likely to be appreciative of achievements. This gives employees an easy opportunity to display skills and talent. The more you do this, the easier it is to combat any imposter syndrome that has come about due the pandemic. Focus On Your Strengths Zeroing on your strengths comprehensively can upgrade your confidence levels. One of the main reasons why the pandemic aggravates imposter syndrome symptoms is the new and unfamiliar approaches to work-life, which has dropped the confidence levels of people experiencing imposter syndrome. Focusing on your strengths can help you understand the things you can do better with more confidence. Start by making a list of your recent and past accomplishments. If you find this difficult, find a career coach to help you or ask other work colleagues what they think are your strengths. Once you have identified your strengths, proceed to take up tasks and opportunities at work that require your strengths and focus on getting them done. When you do things you are good at because of your strengths, you're less likely to make errors, which in turn significantly diminishes your self-doubt that develops with an imposter syndrome.