Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
“These people are going to figure me out so quickly.”
“Everyone is judging my every move.”
“Did what I just say make sense?”
Working as a consultant, there is a good chance you have walked into a room (or video call) with brand new clients and thought to yourself, “I have no idea what I’m doing.”
We often think that from day one, we’re expected to have all of the answers, and if we don’t, we’re not worthy of having a voice in the conversation or a seat at the table. This is a classic example of “impostor syndrome”. Impostor syndrome, as defined by Oxford, is the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills.
You know a lot of things. After all, you were hired to work with your clients based on your experience/skills, but when you start on a new project there is a lot of uncertainty. You may not know what to expect, or feel like everyone you’re working with is much more “in the know” than you are. The folks you’re working with likely have a much deeper understanding of the brand/product/project you’re working on, which can lead to a sense of inferiority or feeling like an impostor.
There are ways to deal with or minimize impostor syndrome, especially when first joining a team and getting up to speed on your newest project:
1. Do your research ahead of time.
Before you join the team, familiarize yourself with the project as much as possible. Take a look at your client’s website, social channels, any recent media coverage, or any public assets that might be included in your work. Try going into your first meeting with things you admire or respect about the clients, and areas for opportunity. By getting some general background information, it will help you pick up on possible current/upcoming workstreams you might be working on. If nothing else, you at least have areas to speak up on that you admire about the team’s work, or showcase that you are invested in the team’s success by bringing up the opportunities.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
This is a tough one, as with many projects, there is little to no onboarding. Even if you spend days doing research ahead of time, there are usually several items (internal processes, resources, etc.) that you aren’t privy to prior to joining a team. While no one wants to sound uninformed by asking something everybody else on the team might already know, by asking questions from the get-go, you are setting yourself up for greater success and less confusion in the future.
3. Know which questions to ask.
Rather than walking into meetings with clients and only reacting to what they share, come with a prepared list of questions to ask. If you are being briefed on a specific project that impacts just one channel, do you need additional information to understand the project’s impact? “Why did we decide that this project is a priority?” “Are there other teams who are impacted by this workstream that are not on this call?” “Is there anything you would do differently with a larger budget?” “What is the biggest challenge/blocker you have right now?”
4. Get one-on-one time with the team.
For many people, impostor syndrome seems to hit hardest in large group settings. We don’t want to ask the “silly questions” in front of everybody, and that’s why we often don’t ask them. Getting one-on-one time with members of the teams you’re working on allows you to not only get to know your clients better as people, but it also opens up a less “risky” forum to have conversations you wouldn’t feel as comfortable having in front of a larger group. This is where you can ask for clarity on acronyms the team uses, history of the team, or get a clearer understanding of what some of the less discussed or highlighted pain points are. The extra few hours this takes is always worth it. It can improve your relationship with the clients, since you’ll know each other better, and also builds trust.
5. Be okay with not knowing everything.
You will never know everything. You’ll have to rely on others to get most of your work done. There’s a reason that you’re working with/on a team, and not as a solo person. In the same way that you are expected to bring value to your team, you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
TLDR: To beat impostor syndrome, do your research, lean on others, ask questions, and get to understand what the needs truly are.
Impostor syndrome is a common symptom of working on new teams or workstreams. While the fear of it might never fully go away, taking action to alleviate some of the catalysts of impostor syndrome will position you to do better in your role and help your clients.
