Imposter syndrome is a common issue that many businesswomen will face. It’s a psychological problem that can undermine their self-confidence and stop them from growing professionally (or even personally, in some cases). Read on to learn more about imposter syndrome and how to overcome it so you can be the best business owner you can be. 

Understanding Imposter Syndrome

To begin with, it’s a good idea to better understand what imposter syndrome is because you might be suffering from it without realizing it (and that means you won’t know that you need to do something about it). Essentially, imposter syndrome means that you feel that anything you’ve achieved results from luck or accident rather than your own skills and expertise. You often fear being ‘found out’ and being labeled a fraud.

Imposter syndrome will make you question everything around you, including your abilities, and it can make it hard to move forward because you’re convinced that you don’t deserve success. After all, you’re just pretending to be a great business owner, or at least, that’s how you’ll feel. If this seems familiar, keep reading to discover how to overcome this feeling. 

Shift Your Mindset

Suppose you feel you are experiencing imposter syndrome, discounting your achievements, attributing any success to luck or external factors, or you’re terrified of failure. In that case, one thing you will need to do is to shift your mindset. Making this shift is easier said than done, and you will need to put the effort in, but it will be worth it in the end. 

Start by trying self-reflection. Consider all the things you’ve done and how far you have come, and consider all your unique strengths and what you bring to the table in your business. You can also challenge negative thoughts by recognizing them and replacing them with positive ones. At the same time, make sure you have a growth mindset to continually improve your skills which will help you feel more confident and get you away from your imposter syndrome problems. 

Build A Supportive Network 

Many women with imposter syndrome are afraid to ask for help and to build connections because they don’t want people to realize that they aren’t what or who they say they are (even though this can’t happen because they’re not actually hiding anything). However, if you are feeling like this, finding help can be the best thing you do. 

Help can come in various forms, and as long as it forms a supportive network that you can use to help you feel better about yourself and move forward, it is worth having. One idea could be to outsource some of your business needs to experts, such as those who offer CPA services, to help you have a clearer mind and give you more time to focus on your business. Or you could delegate work to team members. Networking can also help give you a confidence boost, as well as finding yourself a mentor or life coach. 

These empowering resources collectively can build a supportive network that will help remind you that you are good at what you do and are certainly not an imposter.