How to Know Your Impostor Syndromes Out of Control - The Muse

How to Know Your Impostor Syndromes Out of Control - The MuseHow to Know Your Impostor Syndromes Out of Control When it comes to confidence, I am the quintessential example of someone who feels wholly unqualified to do his job. Some people close to me have said that its a good way to keep myself humble. But trust me, there are times when the feeling of being an impostor has completely derailed me at work. Based on my very real experience, here are a few signs that your impostor syndrome has crossed the line from being something you should be aware of- and something thats keeping you from being a functioning member of society.1. Youre Not Getting Any Work DoneIts easy to wallow in self-pity and assume that youre just a little too dumb to be doing the job youre doing. But, when your work is simply not getting done, its unfair to blame this on the fact that you dont feel qualified to do the job. Of course, I can relate to the feeling that at any moment, youre going to get found out and your anfhrer is going to ask you to never show your face again. But if thats causing you to miss important deadlines and let your teammates down, thats a completely different story.How to DealSomeone much smarter than me once told me that a bad first attempt is way better than no attempt at all. So when your impostor syndrome has you afraid to take a pass at an important project, just remember- lots of feedback on something you worked on is a much better place for you and anyone else involved to start with. And chances are, that first attempt will be way better than you think itll be.2. You Assume Every Conversation With Your Boss Will Involve Firing YouHey, I get it. Its really tough when you start hearing whispers about your job- especially when those rumblings are based on rumors youve made up yourself. But unless you fear your boss because shes told you that youre one mistake away from the unemployment line, theres nothing productive that can come from waiting around for your ma nager to walk over to your desk and fire you. Not only is it based on absolutely no truth, it can put you in the type of mindset that makes it impossible to do your job well or even improve where you need to improve. How to DealIf youre really this nervous about your job status, find some time to talk to your boss about whats going on. Assuming you have a good (enough) relationship with your manger, its as easy as saying, Im wondering if you have any feedback about my recent performance. Even if you dont like what you hear, at least youll have a clearer idea of what you need to improve. But if you cant get a meeting the second you need one, be honest with yourself. What can you learn to get better at your job? If youre proactive about improving, trust me- youll worry much less about getting the boot, and much mora about understanding how you can grow your skills.3. You Start Frantically Looking for New JobsWhen youre feeling like you cant do your job, its only natural to say, Hey, I should probably find something new before they tell me that Im an embarrassment and ask me to leave. But again, this is a great way to distract yourself from the fact that not only can you improve at your work- but that youre also pretty qualified to do what youve been hired to do anyway. And when you panic and start looking for something youre more equipped to do, chances are youll just end up finding something that doesnt make you feel any more secure. How to DealIf this is you, ask yourself whether youre searching for a new job because you really want to find something new- or if youre doing it to avoid being fired. If you really hate what youre doing, then go for it.But if youre enjoying your work and are just trying to avoid getting the boot, you should probably take my advice from above, have that chat with your boss, and get that necessary confidence boost that youre not in danger of becoming unemployed. No really, I spoke to my boss about my insecurities (and wrote about it here) and it was a gamechanger.Theres a lot to be said about dealing with the feeling that youre just not good enough. But at much as I can relate, there are times when you need to take a good look in the mirror. How much are you getting in your own way? As someone who deals with it on a daily basis, take it from me- there are plenty of things youre taking the wrong way, and there are ways you can combat them before it gets completely out of control.