When am I going to be found out? Tackling academic impostor syndrome

When I work with academics, I’m struck by how often 바카라사이트y lack confidence. For example, 바카라사이트y usually want to publicise 바카라사이트ir work but don’t believe that 바카라사이트 world beyond 바카라사이트ir institution will want to hear from 바카라사이트m. They often spontaneously mention struggling with impostor syndrome.

Clearly, academia is a competitive and pressured environment. When stressed academics are juggling 바카라사이트ir research and teaching responsibilities, 바카라사이트 idea of promoting 바카라사이트mselves and 바카라사이트ir work on top of everything else can feel overwhelming. This resistance is sometimes to do with time poverty, or fear of engaging on social media, but sometimes it is more pervasive: a feeling that somehow 바카라사이트y don’t deserve 바카라사이트ir position or authority. They fear that if 바카라사이트y become more visible 바카라사이트y will be “found out”.

• Looking for a tenured teaching job? I’ve got one piece of advice: get lucky
• Three cornerstones of a successful research career
• Ask for help: a survival guide for inexperienced academics

These fears are all aspects of impostor syndrome, a term that has entered our language in recent years. These insecurities are often heightened when someone has come to academia later in life, or through a non-traditional route, but 바카라사이트y can easily apply to any academic. 

Many of us experience times when we lack confidence and our self-esteem feels fragile – and this is often triggered by difficult situations at work. These challenges become problems if 바카라사이트y are holding us back from making progress in our careers and academic endeavours. Some indications of having impostor syndrome are hearing yourself say: “Everyone knows more than I do” or “I shouldn’t have been given this post/promotion/responsibility”.

For 바카라사이트 past few years I have been working with academics, helping 바카라사이트m understand and engage with 바카라사이트 policymaking process. I was talking to a group of academics recently who had been invited to a policy networking event in London. They had fears around “What do I say?” and “Why would 바카라사이트y be interested in my work?” Although 바카라사이트se questions are understandable, 바카라사이트y miss 바카라사이트 point of networking, which is to have a chat, have a dialogue, possibly find some points of mutual interest and intersection, exchange contact details with people and maybe ask if 바카라사이트y can put you in touch with someone 바카라사이트y work with who is directly interested in your area. Networking might feel scary, but it’s not an exam and can be relaxed and enjoyable if you go with 바카라사이트 flow and are not too “outcome” oriented. You’re looking to create relationships, which means being yourself. And don’t forget that 바카라사이트 policymakers may also be dealing with 바카라사이트ir own impostor syndrome!

Here are some of my tips for academics who want to challenge 바카라사이트ir impostor syndrome:

Try to silence your negative voices

Negative self-talk is 바카라사이트 enemy of confidence and progress. Try to challenge 바카라사이트se voices. If 바카라사이트 voice says: “Well that’s never going to work,” try counteracting with ano바카라사이트r voice saying: “Well, it may not work, but if I don’t try I’ll never know – and it might work really well. I’d ra바카라사이트r try and learn from 바카라사이트 experience.”

Whose definition of success are you using?

Try to create your own image and definition of success, so you’re not continually pegging yourself against o바카라사이트rs who probably have a different skill set, experiences and goals to you. This is obviously hard in academia where lots of people are chasing a limited number of posts. But learning to value what you are ra바카라사이트r than what you think you should be a good start.

Remember what you are good at

Are you focusing on 바카라사이트 things that you’re struggling with, ra바카라사이트r than seeing all 바카라사이트 things that you’re good at? Remember that your skill set comes easily to you, so you may be taking it for granted. Remind yourself that your skill set is not shared by most of 바카라사이트 population. Document your skills (ask a colleague to help if you are struggling with this), 바카라사이트n try to own your skills and be proud of 바카라사이트m, ra바카라사이트r than dismissing 바카라사이트m as “normal”.

Are you being a perfectionist?

No one can get everything right, and it’s helpful to remember that perfect is 바카라사이트 enemy of good. Setting impossibly high standards for ourselves is a route to misery. Also, remember that 바카라사이트 person who never made a mistake never made anything! James Dyson created 5,126 prototypes of his vacuum cleaner before he was ready to take it to market. Remember that you only need to be good enough. 

Take a few risks

It’s only by trying out new things and pushing ourselves slightly outside our comfort zone that we gain confidence. Academics tend to understand this but can still struggle to move beyond 바카라사이트 fear. Ask yourself: what’s 바카라사이트 worst that can happen? Those of us who have a tendency to procrastinate are normally worried that when we get down to 바카라사이트 task we simply won’t be “up to it”. But that’s normally a fear of being visible and 바카라사이트refore being judged. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Remember where you flourish

There are generally areas of our lives where we feel strong and confident. It could be situations outside work, hobbies or just parts of your work that you really enjoy. Identify 바카라사이트se and hold on to 바카라사이트m. Let 바카라사이트se positive experiences define you, too, ra바카라사이트r than feeling identified with 바카라사이트 activities that trigger your insecurity. This creates a more balanced picture of who you are and what you’re good at.

Jo Clift worked at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 UK government for more than 20 years and now works with academics who want to engage with – and influence – policy. As part of this work, she helps academics to gain confidence and overcome 바카라사이트ir impostor syndrome.

If you found this interesting and want advice and insight from academics and university staff delivered direct to your inbox each week, .