Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Helpful reframes for dismantling self-doubt

Have you ever worried that you aren’t good enough at your job? Or that someone is going to catch you out any minute and realise that you’re bluffing your way through? If so, you're not alone, and paradoxically; the more ambitious you are, the more likely you are to feel this way.

Imposter syndrome is something we have all experienced at some point in our lives and for many, it is one of the biggest workplace challenges. Since it is not an actual “syndrome” and cannot be clinically diagnosed, psychologists prefer to call it imposter phenomenon, because this term highlights that it's an observed, common psychological experience.

Interestingly, it is often the high-achievers who are both socially-intelligent and self-reflective, that experience imposter phenomenon most often. Why is that? As people put more pressure on themselves to be better, more, faster, bigger - whatever they believe they should be- they also experience more perceived pressure from their audience and peers. That is, as high-achievers continue to achieve; they not only assume people are expecting more from them, but they also doubt their capacity to meet those perceived expectations.

Research into imposter phenomenon has highlighted the factors that make high-achievers more vulnerable;

• Perfectionism: High achievers often link competence with flawlessness. Flett & Hewitt (2002) found that perfectionism is strongly correlated with impostor feelings, as mistakes are perceived not as part of growth but as evidence of inadequacy.

• Attribution Bias: Those experiencing imposter phenomenon often credit their success to external factors such as luck, timing, or help from others rather than their own skill or effort.

• Fear of Exposure: Impostor feelings are common among individuals in high-status or high-visibility roles, where there is constant pressure to prove oneself or live up to expectations.

• The Promotion Cycle: Success often leads to new, unfamiliar responsibilities as high-achievers are often placed in leadership roles or new positions, where they feel underqualified despite clear evidence of their competence.

Strategies to overcome feelings of inadequacy

When you notice these feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy, you might notice it appears similar to the internal voice of your inner critic. I have noticed when I am experiencing a sense of inadequacy or imposter phenomena it isn’t as harsh or self-critical as my inner critic (the not-self in Human Design) but instead it is more uncertain and fragile. That’s because the imposter voice is terrified. It comes from a deep-seated fear that someone is going to reveal your flaws and declare that you are somehow fraudulent or undeserving of the “success” or status that you have earnt.

This fear is exhausting. For those who are already experiencing adrenal fatigue or acute stress in the workplace, imposter phenomenon can be a huge additional drain on the nervous system. And what ends up happening as a result? You decline offers to step-up to new challenges, you turn down invitations to share your brilliance, you say no to promotions or opportunities that require more responsibility- because you don’t want to be placed in a position where you will feel inadequate.

Moving from Inadequacy to Resourcefulness

In the Gene Keys, the Shadow of Gene Key 48 is Inadequacy. If you have Gate 48 activated in you chart (you can look up your free chart here if you’re unsure) this will likely be an amplified theme in your professional and personal worlds.

“The frequency that the Shadow of the 48th Gene Key releases into the cells of your body emerges as a profound uncertainty about the future and your ability to handle it. The feeling of emptiness experienced at this frequency drives human beings to try to fill this inner void through the acquisition of knowledge. But knowledge cannot take away the fear. Knowledge has both a dark side and a light side. Whereas the light side transforms knowledge into wisdom (its higher counterpart) the dark side becomes addicted to knowledge as a means of distraction and false security.” - Richard Rudd

This maybe explains why often we see high-achievers accumulate knowledge or get caught in the constant search of seeking more information, as it’s an attempt to feel adequate or prepared. Those with a Line 1 in their Profile (the Investigator Archetype) will be particularly vulnerable to these loops and as a 4/1Profile, I very much resonate and see myself fall into these states of ever-seeking/ researching in an attempt to find security.

The way through the Shadow of inadequacy is the gift of resourcefulness. In the traditional Chinese I’Ching, the 48th hexagram was called The Well and it represented the source of abundance and nourishment available deep within us. I believe this reframe is not only helpful for those with this Gate activated in their chart, but also for anyone moving through imposter phenomenon. Once we begin to see ourselves in this light, and focus on our inherent value and the wealth of possibilities we each bring, the imposter voice of self-doubt and inadequacy becomes invalid and fades out completely.

“The secret of moving beyond the reach of the 48th Shadow can be found in a single word- trust. As you learn to trust life on a broader scale, the well begins to reveal some of its secrets. Instead of hiding from the darkness inside you, it is as though you finally lower the bucket down the well and then pill it up to see what it contains. Out of the well come all manner of solutions to all manner of challenges in the world around you. Gradually your fear of inadequacy is proven to be an illusion.”

-Richard Rudd

Trusting your internal resources

Using this reframe, we can see that the thing that dissolves feelings of inadequacy and imposter syndrome is trust. And not just the more obvious, logical or mental process of trusting yourself, but the full-body experience of opening yourself up to what’s possible and accepting that there is always an element of the unknown in everything we do.

On a physical level, once we experience a sense of deep trust our nervous system settles and we move back into the parasympathetic nervous system- which also brings our social awareness systems online (learn more about regulating your nervous system here). This means that in times of action or output- when we are “performing” at work- we are able to connect more effectively with our colleagues and clients because our social awareness systems are taking notice of social cues, emotional states, facial expressions etc. We can only do this effectively when we are in a regulated state, so it makes sense that the more we anchor down into a sense of trust, our bodies begin to relax and we perform at our potential- which in turn disproves the fears of the imposter voice and as a result we experience more confidence and creativity. This is the true gift of resourcefulness- the deep trust that you can draw from your inner resources in those moments of self-doubt. It’s also the acceptance of self-doubt and knowing that while it is normal, it is also a temporary state that can be disproven by the inner treasures you find within the well.

I would love to know how you have experienced imposter phenomenon in your professional life? How do you deal with feelings of inadequacy in your current work and where do you experience it the most? When sharing your own experience, it might also be helpful to share your aura type, profile and undefined/ open centres as different configurations in Human Design will influence how you experience imposter syndrome.

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If you would like to learn more about your signature and not-self you can book in a Career Alignment Session where you get my eyes on your chart. In this session I help unpack your story, move towards clarity and create a work-schedule that fits with your natural energy.

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