Imposter Syndrome: What to do when you feel like a fraud

Why does anyone pay me for my work? I mean, really, it’s not that good. Anyone could do it.

At least, that’s what the voice in my head says about 12 times a day.

It turns out I’m not the only one to have thoughts like this. In fact, doubting your professional judgement is so common that it has its own name; Imposter syndrome.

Let’s be clear. Imposture syndrome doesn’t mean you have a few doubts. Most normal people experience doubts about their decisions, skills and ideas. Imposter syndrome means feeling like a fraud, feeling bad at your job (even when you aren’t) and questioning if someone else is right, even when you know they are wrong.

Imposter syndrome typically manifests as questioning if you are worthy of your salary, doubting your intelligence, and convincing yourself that others around you are more worthy of time and money. And imposter syndrome affects more than just your mental health.

Suffering from imposter syndrome means not asking for a pay rise, not speaking up in meetings, letting others take credit for your ideas, and never showing determination, ambition, and resilience. For many women, more so than men, imposter syndrome can literally cut a career short.

And freelancers get imposter syndrome. I’d know.

So, what can you do when these doubts start creeping in? Here are some of my favourite (effective) ways to beat imposter syndrome.

Questioning your worth and talents is surprisingly common among freelancers.

 How I tackle Imposter Syndrome

Take a deep breath

As soon as I start to feel pessimistic or concerned about the quality of my work, I stop. When I think negatively, I know that any work I do won’t be my best. It can feel frustrating, and I usually want to throw myself into my work to get past it but taking a short break means I can gain clarity and reflect and then come back to my job and do my best later.

I usually get up from my computer, make a cup of tea, take my dog for a walk, do some laundry, anything to get my mind off my work. Taking this deep breath and stepping away helps give me some perspective to clear my mind.

Identify the cause (if you can)

Often, when I feel myself doubting my worth and work, something has made me feel this way. Sometimes I may not have realised what triggered these feelings, so I try to think for a few minutes about any feedback I’ve received. Did I not get a job? Am I comparing my success to someone more successful?

When I’ve identified the trigger, I can usually understand why I’m doubting myself and start giving myself a pep talk. Sometimes it’s as easy as reminding myself that feedback on a first draft is a good thing or appreciating that someone else has had a longer career than me.

Of course, sometimes there either isn’t a cause, or I can’t identify it. In that case, I put it down to a voice in my head.

Think of something I’m bad at

I know it sounds contradictory, but when I’m doubting myself, I try to think about something I’m genuinely bad at. It can be anything; maths, painting, water skiing, parallel parking, engineering; the list is long. This gives me a moment to reset and compare something I’m actually bad at to something I only THINK I’m bad at. It’s like recalibrating how I judge if I’m bad at something.

This reminds me that, deep down, I know I’m good at my job. I’m terrible at rocket science but good at my job. It really helps me focus my mind and appreciate that, actually, writing isn’t on the list of things I’m bad at. It’s on the list of things I’m good at.

Keep going

In reality, the only way to get over imposter syndrome is to get through it. You have to keep pushing, keep trying and keep working. In the end, just because you are doubting your skills, your skills will remain the same. I generally find that after a quick break and a quick mental shake, sitting down at my laptop and just getting some work done is the most challenging but most effective cure.

I try to focus on some work that isn’t due right away. This gives me time to reread and edit when I feel more positive. But smashing out an article for a client really helps me get back on track and reminds me that in the end, my talent and skill are always greater than my doubts.

 If you are suffering from doubts, imposter syndrome or are plagued with feelings of inadequacy, just remember that you aren’t alone. Freelancers experience imposter syndrome more than any other salaried profession. We are all constantly doubting your skills and if we are actually worth the rates we charge.

But I can tell you that every person I’ve ever met who was genuinely talented had doubts. Questioning your skill shows that you are looking to improve, which almost always means you have improved more than you think you have.