Imagine landing your dream job, the one that seemed nearly impossible to reach. You could finally put your passion and skills into practice with a fulfilling and rewarding career. The only problem is, you feel like a fraud, convinced that you are not qualified or capable enough for the role you have been given. If this sounds familiar, you may be suffering from imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is a common but overlooked phenomenon that affects people in all fields and stages of their careers. It can take a toll on your mental health, prevent you from reaching your full potential, hold you back in your career, and impair your ability to enjoy your successes. In this post, we will explore what imposter syndrome is, how it affects young professionals in particular, and what you can do to overcome it.

What is imposter syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is a pattern of thinking where individuals doubt their abilities and feel like a fraud, even in the face of conclusive evidence of their competence. This can be especially prevalent among younger professionals who are still adjusting to academia, transitioning to corporate culture, navigating professional expectations, or starting in a new role or industry. No one is alone in having imposter thoughts — it’s estimated about 75% of all people struggle with imposter syndrome at various points in their lives.

How to recognize IMPOSTeR syndrome

One common sign of imposter syndrome is feeling like you do not belong or are not deserving of your position, despite having met the qualifications. You may constantly seek approval from others and have difficulty accepting compliments about your work. You may also experience perfectionism, where you feel that anything short of perfection is a failure and that you cannot afford to make mistakes. These beliefs can lead to anxiety, stress, and burnout, and make it hard to set goals for yourself and accomplish them.

It is different from simply a lack of confidence. As Clare Josa points out, “Confidence is about what we can and can’t do; imposter syndrome is about who we think we are.”

strategies to overcome IMPOSTeR syndrome?

The good news is there are actionable steps you can take to overcome imposter syndrome. On June 20 Catherine Porth, Founder of Let Her Speak, is hosting a workshop for Young Professionals of Knoxville to address imposter syndrome and uncover how it could be impacting your career.

During the event, members and guests will:

• Learn the traits and tendencies of the 5 imposter syndrome archetypes.

• Understand the history and recent research around why this phenomenon happens and how it manifests in different ways.

• Identify the archetypes you most relate to and address how imposter thoughts are building barriers for you.

• Work through a mind map activity to become aware of your own imposter thoughts, change those thoughts into positive truths, and set actionable steps to overcome these barriers.

Register today to reserve your spot - this is one event you will not want to miss!

Catherine Porth is Founder and Chief Advocate at Let Her Speak, an organization dedicated to elevating ALL women’s voices, to facilitating deeper conversations, to inspiring lasting change in our communities, and to building a stronger support system for more women to lead. She received the Individual Develop Award at the 2022 YPK Impact Awards. Catherine is also Director of Insights and Development for the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center and was named in Knox News 40 under 40 list in 2022.