#EveryLittleActionCounts Week 30: Challenge and Reframe our Imposter Syndromes
This week encourages challenging our imposter syndromes! Doing so boosts our confidence, satisfaction, and resilience. Acknowledging our achievements, seeking feedback, and practicing self-compassion can help transform our self-doubts into growth opportunities.
We can challenge and reframe our imposter syndromes by considering the following key aspects:
- Record your achievements: Regularly reviewing this record reminds you of past successes and reinforces the value of your contributions, thus combating self-doubt.
- Seek constructive feedback from trusted friends and colleagues: Build a network of supportive peers who can provide honest, supportive feedback that helps you to gain perspective and strength and identifies areas for growth.
- Practice self-compassion: Replace self-critical thoughts with compassionate, affirming ones. You can practice this by saying things like “it is okay not to know everything” or “it is okay not to be perfect”, thus naturally reinforcing growth instead of feeling inadequate.
We would be very happy to learn about your suggestions on challenging and reframing our imposter syndromes in academia.
Anne-Wil Harzing & Christa Sathish