How To Conquer Imposter Syndrome

Have you ever felt like a peasant among royalty in the workplace? That even though you’ve gotten a great promotion or chance to lead a project, you haven’t really earned it? Despite your accomplishments and qualifications, maybe you have a feeling you don’t quite belong in your role. Surely, luck played a role in you getting the job, and your peers are much more talented?

There’s a name for this type of thought process. It’s called imposter syndrome, and it’s very common. The concept was first identified in the late 1970s by researchers Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes, who wrote:

“The term impostor phenomenon is used to designate an internal experience of intellectual phonies, which appears to be particularly prevalent and intense among a select sample of high achieving women.”-Clance and Imes

Further research shows that while a proportionately high number of women experience imposter syndrome, people of all genders and age groups can be affected. Psychology Today’s Megan Dalla-Camina best describes imposter syndrome as “A psychological phenomenon in which people are unable to internalize their accomplishments.”

Imposter syndrome can have a negative effect in the workplace, as noted by New View Psychology. Strong imposter feelings can lead to caving under pressure, procrastinating important tasks out of fear, and burnout.

The good news is that if you’re feeling like a fraud at work, you aren’t alone, and there are ways to overcome these feelings. The experts at Forbes found 15 ways to overcome imposter syndrome at work. We break them down into three categories that can help you embrace your success and conqueror imposter syndrome.

Reframe your mindset

The most simple way to overcome imposter syndrome is changing how you view yourself, though it can be easier said than done.

Imes, who is now a clinical psychologist in Georgia, believes,

“Most high achievers are pretty smart people, and many really smart people wish they were geniuses. But most of us aren’t. We have areas where we’re quite smart and areas where we’re not so smart.”-Suzanne Imes, Ph.D.

She suggests in light of this to make a list of things you’re good at and things you need to work on. This allows one to recognize positive traits that can be celebrated and compartmentalize ones that could use improvement rather than assuming a deficiency in all aspects.

Forbes cited Monica Thakrar, who thought the age-old “fake it til you make it strategy” can help. Practice what scares you and you’ll start to believe in yourself. After all, if you convinced yourself you’re an imposter, you can convince yourself you’re a superstar.

Find ways to celebrate your success

Reframing the way you view yourself and your accomplishments goes a long way to solving imposter syndrome, but creating concrete reminders helps it stick. Celebrating the things you’ve accomplished and recognizing the work that went into it can remind you that you’ve earned your opportunities fairly.

Keeping a journal and reflecting on a few accomplishments a day can help you stay focused as well as create a tangible list of success you can reflect on, believes Vantage Consulting’s Christian Muntean. HuffPost discussed the idea of creating a ‘brag folder’ in order to celebrate your accomplishments. They cite actress Jenneviere Villegas, who defined the ‘brag folder’ this way:

“Start a folder on your desktop — mine is called ‘you’re doing a great job’ ― and when you get positive feedback, a compliment, etc., screenshot it and put it in there. When you need a confidence boost, or to combat imposter syndrome, open it up and read them.” -Jenneviere Villegas

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Ultimately, if you struggle with changing your mindset, reaching out to others can make a difference. Asking your supervisors or peers for feedback can give you insight without your own bias, Janet Fouts of Tatu Digital Media told Forbes.

Mentoring can be a fantastic way to work through imposter syndrome—on both sides of the process. The Muse’s Ximena Vengoechea believes that by mentoring someone, you’ll realize how much knowledge you have and that it can help you rediscover some of your best skills. Sometimes going back to basics opens up new lines of thought.

Meanwhile, Scott Singer of Insider Career Strategies told Forbes finding a mentor of your own can help.

“Everyone finds themselves in a new situation at some point in their career. Identifying a good mentor who’s been there before can make all the difference—he or she can offer strategic insights, support, encouragement and constructive criticism from their own experience, while also acting as a sounding board.” -Scott Siner

In the end, sometimes professional help is the best answer. There’s no stigma in finding a therapist for finding a solution more tailored to your needs, believes Career Pro Inc.’s John M. O’Connor.

Wrap up

Imposter syndrome is something anyone can suffer from, and while that means not every solution will work for everyone, there are many ways to try to overcome these thoughts. Building self-confidence isn’t always easy, but there are plenty of resources to help. The Muse offers a helpful guide to discover what type of imposter syndrome you may have to discover even more tailored options for your needs. Remember, you’ve come this far for a reason, and you have people in your corner willing to remind you.

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4 Keys To Constructing A Winning Cover Letter

Why is a well-written cover letter important? A good cover letter has the power to generate interest from the hiring manager or recruiter and make up for the areas where your resume may fall short. Whether or not it is required, it is a great tool to increase your shot a receiving an interview, especially if you do not meet all the qualifications. Conversely, however, a poorly constructed cover letter can derail any good traction your resume may have built.

It’s important to note that your cover letter should never be a copy, or even a reiteration, of your resume’s content. Many job seekers fall victim to going more in-depth on their work history because they are unsure what to include. Your cover letter does not need to be an extensive essay that appears as a sort of ‘last gasp’ at the job. If you choose that route, you will again find yourself repeating conversation points from your cover letter during a first-round interview. Instead, piece together a few brief paragraphs to highlight specific, relevant experience and showcase your knowledge of their industry’s latest trends and current standing. 

Get To The Point

Clearly state your interest in the position and organization in your first sentence. Share relevant achievements to grab the reader’s attention, whether it is through statistics backing success in a previous role or by pinpointing your education. Stay curious and humble as you quickly elaborate on your application. While a two-page resume is often justified, there is no such theory for your cover letter. You should be able to effectively convey your qualifications and passion for the role in a few brief paragraphs. Most hiring managers will not be keen to see you ramble on paper with an overly contextualized message. The more irrelevant details you provide, the more chaotic you will appear. Stay focused and close strong with a call to action for your reader.

Personalize It

Atop your cover letter, you can quickly separate yourself from the traditional job seeker by specifically addressing the hiring manager or recruiter by name. More often than not, the job poster’s name will either be attached to the job posting or easily accessible online. Search the organization’s LinkedIn company page and filter through their employees to find the listed hiring manager (HR Manager, Talent Acquisition Manager, etc.). Don’t be afraid to let LinkedIn notify them that you reviewed their profile. Not only will this research show your interest in the role, but it will prepare key conversation points as you learn more about your interviewer’s work history. If you are unsure of the right individual to address, proceed with the generic salutation.

Tie in your work history to the job description and your passions and core values to the organization. Pay close attention to the top requirements for the role and address them in the body of your letter. Reveal how your skill-set and prior experience make you suitable for the position and an integral part of their team. However, you need to be cautious that you are not simply making edits to a universal cover letter. Most hiring managers will quickly notice that your letter was not initially depicted for their company and job listing. 

*Bonus* If you know someone within the organization who would speak kindly of you, now is the time to name-drop. 

Showcase Your Excitement For The Role

You can quickly build rapport with the reader when you appear enthusiastic about the role, but conveying this enthusiasm through words on a page is not always easy. Reveal a long-term commitment to excellence by revealing goals you have for your position with the company and how you plan to contribute to the company’s growth. If you can show that you prioritize the company’s success over individual success, you will confirm that seamless integration with their team is plausible.

Throughout your compelling message, don’t forget to communicate high levels of confidence, trustworthiness, and integrity. Show why you are different than the traditional job seeker and let your personality shine through. If you cannot garner a genuine enthusiasm for the role, more likely than not, this position is not right for you.

Proofreading

The last thing you want is the strong impression you’ve developed through your work history, education, company research, and passion for the industry to be thwarted by a lack of attention to detail. Don’t overlook the importance of double and triple-checking your letter for grammatical and spelling errors. Enlist the help of your friends, family, Grammarly, and conclude with your final readthrough. 

After the long, strenuous process of constructing your cover letter, it can be difficult to muster the energy and patience to do one last proofread. You are excited to be finished with your masterpiece and eager to get your passion-filled application into the eyes of the employer. Still, even one misworded or confusing sentence could prove costly. Don’t give them any reason to toss your application aside, especially when it is one easily under your control.

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4 Lessons Athletes Can Carry into the Business World

At NexGoal, we choose to tap into the network of former athletes because of the highly transferable skills they’ve acquired throughout their athletic tenure. Whether they competed on a professional, collegiate, or high school level, these athletes understand what it takes to succeed. Employers want to fill their organization with employees possessing these high character traits. Knowing how to thrive individually and as a team, and having hard work and dedication ingrained in their DNA, athletes today have a real competitive edge when entering the business world.

Perseverance & Competitive Drive

Athletes are continually facing new challenges, but much to their chagrin, it’s impossible to win them all. Despite this, they are built to overcome losses to tough competition and still find ways to improve when they are on the winning side. Under demoralizing circumstances, athletes maintain a high level of intensity and determination they believe will pay off. What others may view as a setback, the tenacious athlete will consider as a new obstacle to overcome. To avoid getting discouraged, setting immediate, manageable steps is vital.

Former Green Bay Packer Tony Moll credits his athletic background for their’ roll with the punches’ business model, “making audibles left and right.” Discover how Moll turned his winery hobby into a successful business venture through the lessons he learned on the football field. 

Optimism & Confidence

Athletes believe in their abilities to produce significant results, especially under pressure or when the odds are stacked against them. Basketball legend Michael Jordan never distressed over missed opportunities but instead focused on performing his best in the present moment. 

           “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.” -Michael Jordan

While there needs to be a balance between optimism and realistic goals, athletes will certainly not lack confidence and will provide the ‘self-starter’ mentality your organization covets. Inclined to accepting constructive criticism, their tenacity and hopefulness allows them to quickly correct course and prove their worth in the next presented opportunity. 

Leadership & Communication

An athlete’s qualities often place them in a natural leadership position as their work ethic and confidence begin to set the standard for other employees. Knowing the power of being a unified team versus being a group, athlete employees promote team chemistry and consistent communication. They are energizing, organized, and resourceful when it comes to their job performance, and therefore serve as natural motivators in the office. Even the more reserved athletes are used to believing in their abilities and therefore lead by their actions when the words are not enough.

Preparation & Consistency

Athletes operate under a goal-oriented, disciplined business approach that ensues consistent job performance and refined skills. Through intense preparation and a commitment to learning, the athlete’s strategic mindset keeps them relevant in a competitive market. Athletes don’t believe in such a thing as over-preparing, and having knowledgeable employees means having powerful employees. 

Throughout their athletic career, they have grown accustomed to balancing their commitments to academics, training, and family and friends their entire lives. Through effective time management and intense focus, athletes can concentrate their energy on the task-at-hand and keep their priorities’ in-check’ to be successful.

Wrap Up

If you are actively seeking quality employees for your organization who you can feel confident relying on, get in contact with us today to discover how we can work together! We utilize industry-leading technology and our pipeline of candidates to find your ideal employee. 

“What impressed me about NexGoal was the time they spent up front, understanding the core competencies required for our roles. We receive candidates that have the intangible winning qualities like hunger, drive, and passion.” -Bret Anderson, Millennium Labs.

If you are a former or current athlete, we hope this article helped you uncover your potential for your post-athletic career and how the skills you’ve acquired can transfer into the business world. Find confidence in how these desirable traits can make up for other areas your resume may lack.

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Facing Career Disappointment Head-On

Whether it is losing your job, failing to receive a job offer, or merely making a mistake on a new project, we all encounter disappointments in our careers. What is your experience in conquering yours? Are you aware of all the tools at your disposal? Don’t allow yourself to become a spectator of life because of one mistake. Take these three steps to renew your confidence and get back on track:

“Disappointment is the nurse of wisdom.” – Sir Boyle Roche

Accept Your Feelings & Move On

Encountering disappointment is inevitable, so we must practice accepting and choosing to view it as a form of growth.
What Not To Do:
-Do not guilt or shame yourself for feeling discouraged.
-Do not pass the blame onto someone else.
-Do not make a rash decision that you will come to regret.

The best way to cope with your feelings and get it out of your system quickly is to open up about what happened. Talk it out, write it down, and prepare to move on. Creativity expert Diana Raab, Ph.D., promotes the use of ‘free writing’ because “it can help you express concern and emotions in a non-threatening way. The journal is non-judgmental and will listen.”

If you are an active job seeker facing rejection from employers, find confidence in your resilience. The high bar you have likely set for yourself is admirable and will ultimately help you reach your full potential, but don’t stay out of the game for too long. Instead, choose to view your next opportunity as a stepping stone to something greater. If that means temporarily broadening the prerequisites of your ideal job, so be it.

Find new energy and motivation through co-workers and your friends and family. Surround yourself with those who will listen and allow you to vent or blow off a little steam. Your closest friends and family will often be there to provide the necessary encouragement and keep you from the self-criticism and negative thoughts built up in your head. However, it is important to be swift when cycling through your feelings. The longer you harp on your disappointments, the more discouraged you will feel.

Get Realistic

Our brains are naturally wired to pinpoint the negatives surrounding us, but there are still steps to overcome them. Do you have tendencies of a perfectionist, continually finding faults in your work? It’s great always to be striving to improve, but not when it comes at the cost of your happiness. Stop comparing your career ‘lows’ to other people’s career ‘highs.’ It’s not fair to others, and it’s not fair to yourself.

It is important to set lofty career goals, but it is equally important to keep your present expectations realistic. Take a step back and ask yourself if you are acting overdramatic. Ask yourself questions like, “Will this matter three years from now? Or even three weeks?” Quit perceiving disappointment as a sign of failure, but rather an opportunity to try something new. What did you learn? What steps can you take to ‘right the ship?’

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Bounce Back with a Win

How we choose to handle our disappointments will determine our eventual success. When you learn the applicable lesson from your disappointment, it’s time to get back on the winning track. It does not need to be a ‘huge win’, but establishing a little momentum is vital for career growth. Do not attempt to overcompensate with a risky move that could end up proving costly. Take small steps to get back in the game and keep moving forward.

Support from your friends and family is great, but ultimately, hard work, dedication, and passion have to come from you. Can you think of something specific to you that provides extra motivation and self-encouragement? I urge you to meditate on that thought and find a notion that will ignite a flame in you no matter what current path of life may be. When you choose to persevere through strife, your efforts will soon be rewarded.

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Get Your Voice Heard with These Tips & Tricks

If you are new to a company or industry, it can be challenging to know when to speak up and how to command a room. This challenge is amplified when operating remotely. Without the ‘in-person’ touch to your daily or weekly meetings, it is difficult to know when to assert yourself and when you may be overstepping your grounds by doing so. In one-on-one conversations, a lack of social interaction and clarity through feedback still occurs. For many employees, this can hinder the level of passion they have for their work, leading to a decline in productivity and results.

Here are three tips and tricks you can implement into your routine today:

Speak Up for Others

If you have introverted tendencies and do not feel comfortable speaking first, start by being a good listener. When others are talking, don’t spend your time planning what you should say next. Instead, stay actively engaged in what they have to say, or you may miss out on essential details that affect your ideas. For more on uncovering the art of listening and its role in your success, click here.

Introverts are commonly observant, courteous, and strategic. If you give others the chance to speak their mind and show an interest in what they have to say, they will do the same for you. Additionally, if one of your great ideas stemmed from a thought shared by your co-worker, share it. Brainstorming new ideas gives way to new solutions, and giving credit to others can go a long way in affirming one another.

“Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another. -Napoleon Hill

Prepare for Future Conversations

When you have an upcoming meeting, it is critical you research the topics on the agenda. Brainstorm solutions that you can bring to the table from both broad and specific lenses. Even if it’s not you, a co-worker can take one of your ideas and run with it (or vice versa). For example, if you have a meeting set to discuss budgeting plans and new goals for 2021 within your department, don’t go in blindly. Instead, research previous years’ sheets and documents to determine what adjustments can be implemented and why. Having these points ready will show that you are invested in the topic, attentive, and well prepared. If you fear you will have nothing to say, write down a few statistics and questions to have ready when you are called upon during the meeting.

Speak with Confidence and Exuberance

If you lack confidence in your capabilities, take time to reflect on your career path and how you got to where you are today. Organizations want to hear from their employees. If they didn’t want to, you likely would not be in the room. Everyone receives help along the way, but through time and hard work, you have cultivated a level of expertise that gives you the right to share your insights. Now share it! But remember, assertiveness does not have to be accompanied by aggression.

Feeling prepared? You know what needs to be said and how to say it. If you are unsure of how many opportunities you will get to speak, you must make the most of your time. Quickly arrive at the point you are trying to make and provide your reasoning. Although you must keep an open mind to other’s thoughts, don’t get caught rambling on or taking a defensive approach to your opinions.

“It does not require many words to speak the truth.” – Chief Joseph

Bonus Tip – Be Aware of your Body Language

Positive body language goes beyond having proper posture. Don’t be a statue. Show yourself to be alert and engaged in conversations and ready to speak your mind.

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