Ever feel like you’re just faking it until someone catches you and drags you out of the office by your swivel chair?
That, my friend, is imposter syndrome. It’s the nagging voice in your head that says, ‘You’re not good enough, you just got lucky. And one day, everyone will know you’re a fraud.’
Spoiler alert: that voice is lying. And worse – it’s stealing your shine. Let’s shut it up, shall we?
Doubt doesn’t mean you’re a fake
High achievers think confidence should feel like a permanent state of swagger. It doesn’t. Half the people you admire are winging it with a straight face and a strong Wi-Fi signal.
Here’s the thing: self-doubt isn’t proof you’re a fraud. It’s proof you’re pushing yourself. If you weren’t levelling up, you’d be perfectly comfortable.
But comfortable is safe. Safe is stagnant. And stagnant is boring.
So, congratulations – your doubt is basically proof that you’re in the right arena.
Look at the evidence, not the anxiety
Your brain is a terrible fact-checker (no offence).
It’ll tell you, ‘You got lucky.’ But did luck finish that project by the deadline? Did luck close that deal or solve that team member’s meltdown? Doubtful.
So stop letting your feelings grade your performance.
The scoreboard doesn’t lie – your wins, your results, your track record. So, build a private file of your successes, even the small ones. And when your brain gets dramatic, pull out the receipts to remind it who’s running the show.
Stop worshipping other people’s highlights
Scrolling LinkedIn at 11 pm to read someone humble-brag about their promotion is like pouring gasoline on your doubt. You’re comparing your daily grind to their polished PR campaign.
Here’s the truth: often, they’re not better. They’re just louder.
Keep your eyes on your own work. Your progress doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s PowerPoint-perfect career ladder.
Rewrite the script
The thoughts will come – you can’t duct tape your brain’s mouth shut. But you can flip the narrative:
- Instead of ‘I don’t belong here,’ try ‘If I didn’t belong, I wouldn’t have been invited.’
- Instead of ‘I don’t know enough,’ try ‘Other people are just better at faking spreadsheets.’
- Instead of ‘They’ll figure me out,’ try ‘They already did – but I’m still here anyway.’
Confidence isn’t about silencing your mind; it’s about refusing to let the noise drive.
Lighten up
Finally, here’s a radical cure: stop treating every task like it’s a UN peace treaty.
Most of the pressure you feel? Self-inflicted. If you bomb a presentation, nobody’s sending you to jail. If you stumble over an answer in a meeting, the earth will keep spinning.
High performers tend to inflate the stakes until every email feels like a Pulitzer entry. Repeat after me: I’m allowed to be good at my job and imperfect at the same time.
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