How I handle Imposter Syndrome

Imposter Syndrome 🤡
I’ve been asked a lot about it in my DMs.
I felt it when I first started at Netflix. The “pinch me, I can’t believe I’m here” turned to “why on Earth would they want me?! I’m not fit for a FAANG!” 😩

Here’s how I've navigated it:
1. Identify
2. List the facts
3. What's next
4. Celebration

1️⃣Ask what EXACTLY is making me feel that way.

🗣 Was it something someone said?
🙋🏻‍♀️ What is something someone did?
✔️ Was there an expectation I wasn't aware of?
👂🏼 Was my understanding different than someone’s explanation?

⭐️ Finding the root is hard because it feels like everything all at once, but there's a moment that sparked the feeling.

2️⃣Once you’ve identified the root, ask what you've done. If it’s a skill, project, or expectation that was the genesis of the feeling, list out the facts.

🧠 What skills do I already have that I can apply?
📊 What projects have I done that are similar to this new project?
🧩 What experiences do I have that are relevant to the expectations being asked of me?

⭐️ Don’t be shy about these facts! Every one of them counts! I’ve called this my brag book!

3️⃣W/the facts, ask how you’ll continue to grow, up-skill, and improve.

👩🏻‍💻 Will I do research to find more answers?
👥 Will I collaborate with team members to find solutions?
📚 Will I take classes, watch videos, and read to keep learning?
🌐 Will I leverage a network of friends, colleagues, and professionals for help?

⭐️Imposter syndrome has a weird way of making you feel frozen in time. Reminder: you’re a work in progress and you will only get better in time! If a skill needs improvement, a project needs deeper insight, or expectation needs to be exceeded, YOU WILL GET THERE. Take each step and be consistent.

4️⃣Give yourself credit for where you are, how far you’ve come, and what is next in your journey.

🙌🏼 Give yourself praise for what you’ve accomplished
🙏🏼 Congratulate yourself on the new opportunities
👯‍♀️ Surround yourself with people who recognize this

⭐️ Celebrate yourself and never underestimate the power of talking about I.S. when it comes up. Sometimes simply talking about it can also provide clarity, comfort, and solutions.

I feel I.S. sometimes, but I’ve been reframing and that's the foundation of my tips above. Turning a negative feeling into a positive one is the best learning and improvement I’ve taught myself. I hope this helps anyone out there feeling imposter syndrome now. I’m here if you need support. I know you’ll be able to navigate this too.