Imposter Syndrome | Why Do Some of us Doubt our Capabilities? by Bethany Livermore

Bethany Livermore is a Digital Marketing Apprentice at Mindshare and is writing for the Community Blogging Team.

I want to inspire others, lead the Multiverse Community, and create engaging and relevant content to lead you to success as you embark on your apprenticeship journey!
I aim to write articles and blogs that equip you with the essentials to ace your apprenticeship programme. I’d like to take this opportunity to share my tips based on my own experiences.

This article examines imposter syndrome and how it affects young people at work. Believe it or not, 70% of adults experience impostorism at least once in their lifetime. Imposter syndrome is a form of ‘intellectual self-doubt,’ a feeling that you are not good enough, like you don’t belong, and have a habit of playing down your strengths and successes. During periods of transition like starting a new job, you may feel like an imposter or tempted to compare yourself to other colleagues - it happens! Over time, this can fuel a cycle of anxiety, depression, and guilt.

Do you downplay your achievements? Do you compare your capabilities to those around you and feel like they are better? Do you agonise over even the smallest flaws in your work? Do these statements sound familiar? Let's talk about how you can reframe these imposter thoughts into something more positive! Think about what your 'imposter voice' is telling you and begin to phrase it in a more affirmative way. An affirmation is meant to be a positive declarative statement. It takes practice and consistency.

'I'll never be good enough' = 'I am good enough’
‘What if I make mistakes?’ = ‘Everyone makes mistakes, but this is what makes you better’
‘I got this job through pure luck’ = ‘I worked hard to get where I am today'

As an apprentice, there could be many instances where you feel like an imposter:

• Maybe you are a school leaver and the youngest person in work meetings?
• Perhaps you feel like you don’t bring ‘enough’ to the table at work.
• What if people at work think my ideas are not good enough?

Don’t worry, I have been there and still working to combat my imposter thoughts. Coming straight out of college and into an apprenticeship was a rollercoaster to start off! I’d never worked in an office, never worked in a 9-5 position, working in an industry I knew so little about, and the isolation of COVID - 19 made the situation even worse. Using my experiences, I am going to list some things that have helped me and that I wish I knew before I started my apprenticeship.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome:

Keep a success diary - At the end of every month, take some time to reflect on the month and write down things you have achieved and were proud of. Over time, you will have a record of all your positive moments to rebuild your confidence and combat imposter. Give yourself the recognition you deserve, you worked hard for it!

Use this website and pick 10 core values that represent you - Core Values List: Over 50 Common Personal Values (jamesclear.com)

• Explain to someone why you have chosen these words and you think they portray you as an individual.
• Narrow down to 5 works and then 3 words. Ask yourself why you chose these?
• These 3 words are values that you bring to work and how you are different to other colleagues.

The role of this exercise is to tell yourself that you don’t need ‘10 years experience’ because you have these values that characterise you. Whenever you have imposter thoughts, remind yourself of these!

Overcoming imposter syndrome is about being kind to yourself, setting realistic expectations, and recognising how far you have come. It is so important to reflect and ask yourself questions to adopt your success. Use your negative feelings of imposter as a positive signal to display you are outside your comfort zone. The overall message I would like you to take away from my article is that you’re not alone, we’re all human after all, embrace your imposter thoughts and praise yourself for all your successes and achievements. You got this!

If you'd like to write an article to be posted on the Multiverse Community Hub, please fill out this form and a member of the team will be in touch.