It can be a good thing to feel like an imposter
We all experience unexpected challenges when evaluating ourselves. Charles Darwin's insight that "Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge" couldn't be more accurate. Sometimes, it seems like the more we learn, the more we realize there's so much we don't know (which is excellent).
In today’s blog post, we're looking into a fascinating topic (IMHO): the balance between feeling confident and staying humble while being a creative entrepreneur or professional.
Let's start by talking about the Dunning-Kruger effect, something we've probably all experienced at some point. It's when we think we're good at something, but in reality, we're not quite there. On the flip side, there's Impostor Syndrome - that feeling of not being as good as people think we are (and maybe we have experienced way more of this side than the other).
But let’s dive into both:
The Dunning-Kruger Effect often leads to a pattern of behavior characterized by a lack of self-awareness regarding one's competence and skills. This effect can be summarized as follows:
Unaware Overestimation: People with this cognitive bias lack skills in a specific area but wrongly believe they are highly competent.
Overconfidence: This overestimation leads to excessive confidence, often resulting in taking on tasks beyond their abilities.
Recognition of Incompetence: Their lack of competence becomes evident as they engage in tasks or receive feedback.
Humbling Realization: The turning point comes when they recognize their limitations, which can be humbling.
Revised Self-Perception: Following this realization, they adjust their self-perception to become more realistic about their abilities.
Skill Development: To bridge the gap, they work on acquiring competence in the area where they initially lacked it.
Continuous Learning: Over time, they engage in ongoing learning and self-improvement, becoming more receptive to feedback.
On the other hand, the recurring pattern regarding Imposter Syndrome is called The Impostor Cycle - which especially being a creative profile, we can say it’s pretty standard to at least have been through it once in your professional life.
There are two primary responses within this cycle:
Over-Preparation: People often believe they must work much harder than others to achieve the same goals. This perception leads them to think that they are imposters. They feel they must work harder to make up for their perceived shortcomings.
Procrastination: Alternatively, some individuals procrastinate and make last-minute preparations for tasks. They fear being exposed as fraud due to their hurried approach.
After finishing a task, people with Impostor Syndrome may experience a momentary feeling of accomplishment. Nonetheless, they find it difficult to fully embrace this success, which can result in emotions such as fear, anxiety, and a sense of being a fraud. This sets the tone for the next task, and the cycle continues…
The Imposter Cycle is often accompanied by several related characteristics including:
Perfectionism: Setting unrealistic standards and goals can lead to over-competitive behaviour and self-criticism.
Super-Heroism: Over-preparing for tasks to appear more capable than necessary, driven by the need to be the best and meet self-imposed high standards.
Atychiphobia (Fear of Failure): Anxiety and fear of shame or humiliation when facing tasks, mainly when the possibility of failure exists.
Denial of Competence and Capability: Attributing their success to external factors or luck rather than recognizing their intelligence, skills, and talents.
Achievemephobia (Fear of Success): Difficulty recognizing and internalizing successes may lead to increased expectations and workload.
It is crucial to understand that not everyone with Imposter Syndrome experiences each. The effects of Imposter Syndrome can vary between individuals, and the absence of particular traits does not mean that someone is not affected by it.
But here's the thing: humility, derived from the Latin word "from the earth”, isn't about low self-confidence. It's about recognizing that we're all a little flawed and that's part of being human.
So, what's the secret to achieving the right balance?
To help you find your sweet spot between confidence and humility, here are a couple of things I’ve discovered in my readings or/and experienced myself:
Regularly evaluate your strengths and weaknesses honestly (this takes pure courage).
Seek input from trusted sources to get your abilities correctly.
Make sure your goals are realistic and achievable to build confidence gradually (especially for those that make ambition an exciting but impossible place to be).
View failures as learning opportunities and stay resilient. (the only failure is, honestly, not trying).
Actively listen to others, providing humility and boosting your learning.
Acknowledge successes with humility, recognizing the contributions of others.
Be open to constructive criticism for self-improvement.
Seek guidance from mentors (hiring or at least consuming their content) to maintain a balanced perspective.
Periodically assess your goals and adjust your approach as needed.
Confident humility can lead to better decisions, personal growth, and the courage to question what we think we know.
