7 tips on how to deal with imposter syndrome

4 min readFeb 16, 2021

Imposter syndrome is the feeling that you don’t belong here. It is the feeling of being amongst an incredibly smart group of people and feeling you don’t deserve a seat at the table, that it was a mistake you ended up here, that your success is a fluke.
If you have been feeling like this, you are not alone. 70% of the population feels the imposter phenomenon — feeling of anxiety, fear of failure and dissatisfaction with life.

Dealing with imposter syndrome.

Dealing with imposter syndrome can become manageable with a little patience, self-understanding and self-love. Here are some tips that have helped me manage my imposter syndrome -

You are not alone: Know that usually overachieving people experience imposter syndrome.
Ask for help: I have noticed that personally imposter syndrome gets triggered when I am working on something unfamiliar. I have an expectation from myself to figure things out instantaneously, and to “just know” things. Getting guidance from someone made me feel that I was weak and not smart enough. However, I have to come to realize that this behavior is completely unfair to me. We all need help when starting out, and often our peers embrace the idea of us reaching out for help. Next time when you are in an uncharted territory, remind yourself to let go of unrealistic expectations from yourself and let others help you on this journey.
Review your achievements: Make a list of accomplishments you have had so far in your life, and list things you are really proud of. Now make a list of things that challenged you in the last year, and you were able to overcome. These lists are a proof you are capable of amazing things.
Reach out: Often, sharing about how you feel with others makes it easier to overcome feeling like an imposter. Some people who can help -