Feeling Like an Imposter? You’re Not Alone!
We have a confession to make: Many of the women at Molo have been battling an imposter monster. Some days, it’s a mere whisper in the back of our collective mind. Other days it’s a roaring voice that threatens to derail all confidence. Turns out we’re not alone in this fight; imposter syndrome is a common experience, especially among women entrepreneurs. Despite the comfort of knowing that others share this struggle, it’s disheartening that so many of us feel self-doubt. What’s behind these nagging feelings?
What is Imposter Syndrome?
Although it’s not an official medical or psychiatric diagnosis, imposter syndrome is a real and common experience that can be incredibly debilitating. According to the psychologists who first coined the term in the 1970s, imposter syndrome is characterized as “the persistent doubt concerning one’s abilities or accomplishments accompanied by the fear of being exposed as a fraud despite evidence of one’s ongoing success.”
In simpler terms, it’s the nagging feeling that you’re not good enough, and at any moment now everyone will find out. This lethal combination of negative self-opinion, emotions, and behaviors can lead you to believe you don’t deserve success.
Why Do Women Entrepreneurs Battle Negative Self-Talk?
A recent study found that 75% of female executives have experienced imposter syndrome at some point in their careers. Although we’ve worked so hard to break down barriers in the business world, we’re still feeling it. Despite the progress we’ve made towards gender equality, the lack of representation makes us feel like outsiders. What’s more, Black women, women of color, and women from marginalized backgrounds face even more bias in the workplace. And that can lead to even more self-doubt. As a community, we need to work together to create more inclusive workplaces. We need to support one another so that we can achieve our full potential.
Empowering Moments
The more women we talk to, the more we see how common it is to battle the imposter monster. It is easy to believe we’re not worthy of success, especially when we’ve experienced repeated setbacks and biases. But there’s a game-changing solution: talking openly with other women entrepreneurs and executives who share our struggles. That connection helps us break imposter syndrome’s hold on us.
Subsequently, we’re discovering what kind of leaders we want to be, and we’re cheering each other on. Let’s continue to support and uplift one another as we break down barriers and make our mark in the world.
Beating the Imposter Monster
Growing past imposter syndrome is an ongoing journey. Indeed, it requires both patience and perseverance. It’s not about fitting in or pretending to be someone you’re not. Instead, it’s about embracing your unique perspective and standing out as a leader in your own right. And it’s about doing great work, uplifting others, and expressing gratitude for the mentors who have helped us develop our skills and confidence.
Although the imposter monster may never fully disappear, we’re committed to doing our best to ignore it and continue moving forward — both for ourselves and for the women entrepreneurs who are looking to break down barriers and make their mark in the world. Together, we can achieve greatness. Go conquer your imposter monster — because you are enough.
