Overcoming Imposter Syndrome to Find Empowerment
By Dr. Heather Caldwell
My fear of not being as smart as people thought I was started when I was a teenager. It got progressively worse in graduate school when I was pursuing my master’s degree in Biology and during the first few years of my faculty position.
I remember thinking that the only reason that I was successful in my classes and in my laboratory work was because my mentors, teachers, and peers were just being nice to me - that they did not want to be honest and tell me I was not really cut out to be a scientist.
This feeling intensified when I started my PhD at another institution. I was sure that in the first couple of years everything would come undone and I would be exposed as an imposter.
Even now, when I feel like I am finally free of imposter syndrome, I acutely remember feeling not good or smart enough to train and work as a professional scientist. I also remember the feeling of loneliness that came with feeling like an imposter.
How did I move out of that dark psychological space to where I am now? Honestly, there is not a quick and easy answer to that question. Overcoming imposter syndrome took a long time and required me to be a little nicer to myself. It meant accepting compliments at face value, not tying my self-worth to what others think of me, and recognizing and celebrating my own successes. I began surrounding myself with people I respect and who help make me a better scientist, leader, and person. I also embraced the fact that it is okay to not know everything. Discovery and learning is why I became a scientist anyway!
I am grateful that I now have the advantage of hindsight and can now see how my own self-doubt could have held me back, but I do often wonder how I got to that place, why it lasted so long, and if anything could have been done sooner to reduce its impact on my life.
That’s why I try to do all that I can to help others who are struggling with self-doubt. If you are experiencing imposter syndrome, here is what I recommend:
Know that you are not alone. It is estimated that as much as 70% of the population, both males and females, experience imposter syndrome at some point in their careers. In recent years, when I’ve talked with female colleagues, it turns out that many of them had the same feelings that I did. I think that most of us wish that we had talked about our feelings and concerns earlier. Simply not feeling alone in our struggles can make all the difference in the world.
Seek out mentors and friends who will lift you up. Develop a group of people who will take time to get to know you, who will celebrate your successes, and who will have real, and sometimes difficult, conversations with you. When you meet people you can learn from and who you admire and respect, ask them if they will be part of your mentoring and support team. Of course, it can take time to build that group, but that’s okay.
Try to be kind to yourself. Be open to loving yourself a little more and finding joy in your accomplishments. Invest in yourself by learning about the things you struggle with and strategies to grow to overcome them. Knowledge really is power.
Pay it forward. Be someone who supports and encourages others. Supporting others on their own path is not only rewarding, but it can also help you learn about yourself.
