What does impostor syndrome look like?
This syndrome is typically found in people who have been promoted to a management role or given greater power. It manifests itself as uncertainty, indecisiveness and doubts about one's own skills. Anyone thus affected exaggerates the failures they encounter, are not sure they have what it takes to lead others, and cannot help but think maybe someone else should have been promoted to their position instead. The good news is that these feelings are quite common and even managers at the highest level may experience them. You just need to change your attitude towards yourself and work. How can you go about this?
Keep in mind that management decided to promote you
First of all, you must realise that management actually decided to promote you, not somebody else. This means they saw something in you that made them believe you could handle your new role. A decision to promote someone to a management position is never a random one; it is always carefully considered. If you accept this fact, your confidence will get a boost, as will your faith in your own skills.
Increase your emotional intelligence
The next step is to get to know your own emotions better. What situations trigger your negative feelings and impostor syndrome? Why do you feel this way, and what doubts and uncertainties are the source of your problems? You must know yourself and your emotions better and learn better to work with them: you will thus be closer to solving your impostor syndrome.
Focus on positive things and successes
This advice is valid not only for impostor syndrome: it may be applied also to your overall attitude to work. While it is important to deal with mistakes and learn from them, you should focus primarily on successes and positive things you have achieved. This will, among other things, help you not to feel like an impostor in your own management role.
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