So you recently entered the working world and can’t wait to get ahead. You are doing a good job and want your higher-ups to notice and reward it. Why rely on luck when you can be proactive instead?
Self-advocacy is the best way to take charge of your career. It involves assertive communication of your needs and wants so others can help you achieve your career goals. Unfortunately, like many women, you may be unable to do so due to imposter syndrome.
Lacking faith in your capabilities will prevent you from speaking up and limit your growth. Here are five tips to help you silence imposter syndrome and advocate for yourself at work.
Know what you bring to the table.
It is easy to forget how awesome you are, especially if you aren’t receiving external validation. Keep track of your skills and accomplishments with a done list. When you need a pat on the back or get inadequate praise, refer to your list and appreciate yourself.
Imposter syndrome can develop when our skills are overlooked, says Kim Hollingdale, a licensed psychotherapist & coach. She suggests making a weekly list of every little thing you have accomplished. “Take five minutes and write down all the things you’ve done well this week, not just the things you’ve seen others get recognized for,” says Hollingdale.
Hollingdale emphasizes that this exercise will build your confidence and give you a record to share with seniors. If you need help recognizing your successes, she suggests asking close work friends or non-work friends for their views.
Create a plan and take action.
In an ideal world, managers would equip employees with the tools they need to succeed. But most managers either don’t have the time or aren’t bothered enough to do so. Therefore, much like an entrepreneur or freelancer, you need to be your own manager.
Margaret Buj, a recruiter and interview coach, illustrates this with an example. “If you want a promotion, identify what you genuinely need to get it. Being objective will help you figure out the steps to take you from where you are to where you want to be. The steps you identify might be: getting a mentor, working with a mindset coach, talking to your manager about your career aspirations, working towards a new qualification, improving your interview skills, and getting professional help re-writing your CV.”
Once you have figured out a plan, set some deadlines and begin working through the steps. Taking action will help you build confidence and encourage you to advocate for yourself.
Build a solid personal brand.
In this digital age, everyone can benefit from a well-defined personal brand. Executive leadership coach Christopher Mitra says that it establishes you as an expert in your field. What’s more, it will help you build a reputation and increase your credibility. As a result, you will naturally defeat imposter syndrome and be ready to self-advocate.
“Creating your brand will remind you how talented and incredible you are. It is probably the best step you can take to overcome imposter syndrome. Also, a well-crafted personal brand will position you as a subject matter expert and thought leader. When you focus on giving advice and facilitating discussion instead of endless self-promotion, you will build trust with others”, says Mitra.
Join a community and ask questions.
Community gives one a sense of belonging and is crucial in nearly all areas of life. According to research, social isolation at work affects an employee’s job performance and results in the loss of professional opportunities. It also lowers their confidence, causes burnout, and influences overall well-being.
Career expert Sarah Doody recommends joining a community that will challenge you, hold you accountable, and cheer you on. Collective support will help squash imposter syndrome and give you the courage to advocate for yourself. Not comfortable joining large online groups where you don’t know anyone? Fret not. “Your support system can consist of individuals whom you know well as well as acquaintances who might be in similar online professional groups as you”, says Doody.
Another important tip to remember is to ask questions instead of making assumptions. Doody says that trying to read into situations is a waste of time. On the other hand, asking questions will help you understand the reality of a situation. Uncovering reality is vital because “without reality, you won’t have the information to properly advocate for yourself.”
Get real and find a mentor.
It can be overwhelming to figure everything out by yourself, more so when you are a woman starting out in her career. This is where a mentor comes in. Elizabeth Sandler, a career strategist and workplace investor, says that in the absence of mentors, positive feedback, and equal recognition, women are left overcompensating with perfectionism, self-criticism, overworking, and doing-it-all. All of these are versions of imposter syndrome, which is caused by the gap between our expectations and the support needed to meet those expectations.
To get ahead while having a life, it is necessary to find a good mentor. Take initiative and ask someone you look up to professionally for mentorship. This can be hard if your company is predominantly male because people like to mentor younger versions of themselves. In this case, you can consider leaving your job for an inclusive organization. Apart from this, “learn from mistakes, pace yourself, and embrace feedback”, says Sandler.
It’s high time we women learn to silence imposter syndrome and advocate for ourselves at work.