Overcoming Imposter Syndrome as a Small Business Owner
No matter how established your business or your amount of professional experience, nearly everyone falls prey to imposter syndrome.
It’s a real thing, and pretty much everyone has it—even you! High-achieving professionals, and especially women, are prone to feeling like phonies.
What if I say the wrong thing?
I’m not smart enough for this project.
What if they think I’m an idiot?
These thoughts are as pervasive as they are harmful. There’s no sure-fire cure for imposter syndrome, but you can take small steps every day to boost your self-confidence.
Feeling like a fake? You’re in good company. Follow these quick tips to recover from imposter syndrome.
1: Embrace your feelings
The worst thing you can do right now is to suppress your feelings. Embrace the feelings of imposter syndrome, as uncomfortable and sticky as they can feel.
You’re growing your business, and that means you’re doing new things. Of course you’re going to feel lost or like a fake—you’re still learning. Be kind to yourself and know that these feelings will pass as you lean into the work.
When in doubt, share your feelings with a partner, other business owners, a coach, or your therapist. Get everything on the table so you don’t suffer in silence.
2: Be realistic and honest
We’re all for stretching your abilities, but don’t take on projects that are too big. Be realistic and reasonable about what you can take on.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be an expert at everything. You just have to kick ass at the one thing that makes you truly unique. You have experience and maybe even a degree in your industry: you have merit and value already.
If you don’t know something, say what you don’t know. Nobody has all the answers, and pretending otherwise can lead to worse feelings of imposter syndrome.
Step 3: Celebrate imperfections
Let’s say you’re running a web design company. You love doing web design work, but you really don’t like writing content for your clients. Instead of forcing yourself to do work you don’t like, don’t offer it!
Sure, that might be an imperfection in your business, but that’s okay. Every brand has perfect imperfections that set you apart from others in your niche.
Actually, saying what you won’t do indicates focus and authenticity. Sometimes these imperfections can land you more clients, so don’t be afraid to admit your shortcomings.
Every business owner feels like an imposter at some point. You might never get rid of the feeling entirely, but when you create a brand rooted in authenticity and clarity, you’ll finally feel confident enough to run your business.