Imposter Syndrome – You’re in good company.

Impostor Syndrome results from a temporary memory loss that causes you to forget your past accomplishments AND how incredible you are. That’s my definition, and I’m sticking to it.

Chances are, if you have landed a new opportunity - you are up to it, you've earned it, and you’ll be great. Unless you fabricated a tale about your past accomplishments, focus on the future; you’ve got this.

If you’re sitting in a room thinking how bright, talented, articulate (insert adjective here) everyone else is and wondering how you got here. Look around the room and assume you are in the sightline of someone looking at you and thinking the same thing. Breathe in some confidence and lean in.

Have you shown up at a class, heard everyone’s self-introduction, and thought, “I shouldn’t be here?”  Remember that you, too, took the prerequisite course, aced the GMAT or met the experience requirements. You’re in the right place. This is where you are supposed to be.

If Imposter Syndrome were a club – its membership would be dominated by high-achieving, successful women.  Being part of such a prestigious group may sound appealing, but it’s not a club you want a lifetime membership in.

When club members are complimented on their success, they attribute it to luck.  If pushed (as in, that’s a lot of “luck” you should buy lottery tickets), they may admit to hard work/long hours. Confidently accepting the compliment and owning the success they’ve earned does not come naturally to the club members.

Comparison is a catalyst for Imposter Syndrome. You feel good, proud, and confident, and then you compare. Whatever metric you are using to compare it inflates the qualities of others.  Your confidence drains and is replaced by irrational self-doubt.

If you look at your situation objectively and lean into the facts, you will see that you are the real deal. Comb your memory quickly to retrieve your accomplishments. The experience, achievements and skills you’ve amassed do not diminish when you are in the company of other successful people.

It takes awareness and the occasional reboot of your memory to manage.