Imposter syndrome is an unfortunate trend sweeping the modern workforce that is typically described as the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved. According to research from the International Journal of Behavioral Science, 70 percent of people experience imposter syndrome at some point in their lives. As negative thoughts and doubts begin to unravel in the mind of employees, they often begin to fold under pressure, instead of solving the problem which typically leads to lower productivity and performance overall.
In order to effectively battle imposter syndrome, employers must do their part and begin focusing on how they can help their employees work through its debilitating effects while encouraging them to feel a sense of belonging. Here are three ways you can start helping your employees battle imposter syndrome:
Place individuals in supportive environments
Employees are never going to win the battle against imposter syndrome if they don’t feel supported. Therefore, make sure you are creating a work environment where everyone feels that they have the necessary tools to be successful. Employees need to feel like they aren’t going to get fired for making mistakes and that they have the freedom to try new things. The desire to produce perfect work is a common side effect of imposter syndrome, but if employees feel adequately supported by management, regardless of any mistakes, they are far less likely to crumble under pressure.
Provide encouraging affirmation to instill confidence
The key to effectively battling imposter syndrome is instilling confidence in the entire workforce. Employees struggling with imposter syndrome feel that they are not qualified for their position which leads to an utter lack of confidence in their abilities. Providing encouraging affirmation and instilling confidence into teams will actively combat those thoughts and feelings. An easy way to build confidence in employees is to encourage them through any mistakes, while remaining specific about what they did right, and continuing to treat them with respect.
Foster an environment where all ideas are welcome
The final way to battle imposter syndrome in the workplace is to build an environment where all ideas are welcome. Creating a culture where employees can actively express themselves without judgment makes it harder for them to believe their ideas aren’t good enough. It’s important for managers to search for worth in all ideas and never immediately shoot something down because they feel it’s unworthy of consideration. However, this possibility can be avoided by establishing a rule across the company that all ideas are welcome and encouraged.
It’s important for employers to work alongside employees to battle imposter syndrome. Because this problem is rooted in worth, employees need to be reminded that they are doing good work. The keys outlined above are a great place to start. Once imposter syndrome is defeated, not only will your employees’ productivity improve, but so will their overall well-being.
To learn more about how to lead your team to success, check out our blog 5 tips to build an effective team!
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