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What do you do when you feel like a fraud?

Wanna know a secret? I’ve dealt with imposter syndrome my entire career.

From the time I was hired as a recruiter with AECOM to the time I moved into consulting, I’ve always felt like I had no business doing what I do.

Frankly, it’s been super annoying because it was like an inner voice always second guessing me. A few times, it made me think think twice before asking for a raise and it was a huge obstacle in the way of my consulting career.

You know that nagging feeling when you nail a project, but you can't shake off the idea that you just got lucky? Or when you do something awesome, and all you can do is downplay it, saying things like, "Oh, anyone could have done it"? That's imposter syndrome at work.

It's a constant fear of being exposed as a fraud, even though you've worked your tail off to get where you are.

How do you deal with these negative thoughts?

A useful technique is I’ve used is called cognitive reframing. It means changing how you interpret your experiences.

So, instead of thinking "I was just lucky with that project", you can reframe it as "I worked hard, and my skills led to the success of that project". It's a small change in perspective that can have a big impact on your confidence.

I’ve also found that keeping an "achievement file" to remind me of my wins is really helpful. An achievement file can be a page in your notebook or an Excel spreadsheet, and it’s just a record of all your accomplishments, whether big or small. Whenever you receive praise from your boss or complete a challenging project, write it down. This record can serve as a reminder of your abilities whenever you're doubting yourself (not to mention the benefit it adds when you need to write a resume).

The goal here isn't to ignore your feelings, but to understand and reframe them.

Build yourself a support system

Building a support system is the second part of overcoming impostor syndrome. A support system doesn’t need to be anything fancy. Something as simple as having coffee with a friend that understands what you’re feeling can serve as a powerful form of support.

One thing I've found really helpful is having mentors that believe in my abilities. These are people who have provided me with guidance, advice, and reminded me of some of my accomplishments when self-doubt crept in. At AECOM, my boss was my mentor - I owe a lot of what I know in the business to him.

Having a good mentor can be one of the most enriching and validating experiences - if you haven’t yet found one, I recommend checking out [Random Recruiter’s recent post](https://randomrecruiter.beehiiv.com/p/attract-mentor) on how to attract one.

Secondly, surround yourself with people that understand impostor syndrome. They can be a safe space to share your feelings and fears. It's always comforting to know that others have experienced the same feelings and can provide empathy and understanding.

You can also seek out communities focused on personal development and overcoming impostor syndrome. These communities can provide resources, strategies, and a sense of belonging that can be really empowering.

Final Thoughts

Overcoming imposter syndrome is a long-term process that demands a lot of self-reflection. It’s important to realize that much of it is really just reframing how you look at yourself. It's okay to question your abilities sometimes, but you need to recognize that it’s your expertise that’s led you to where you are today.

Read the MGMT Playbook for weekly strategies to become a better leader and a better boss.

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