‘Top Tips for Property Managers’ – Do you Have Imposter Syndrome?

Have you heard of Imposter Syndrome? I only heard about it when I was taking a course back in 2020. I quickly realised I had Imposter Syndrome and instantly became well aware of why it had taken me two years to start this business.

You see I have never felt like I belong in any job I have done, I was always waiting for someone to find out, I couldn’t really do it and that I was a fake or a fraud. The reason I am writing about this now, is because I recently got asked to present to a group of property managers and immediately my old friend ‘Imposter Syndrome’ reared its ugly head. ‘Who are you to do this, you can’t be serious, why would you do that to yourself, you failed last time you did this, DON’T DO IT,’ it literally screamed at me as I accepted the offer. So, let me break Imposter Syndrome down for you.

What is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter Syndrome is loosely defined as doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. 

It involves feelings of self-doubt and personal incompetence that persist despite your education, experience, and accomplishments. It isn’t a diagnosis or a medical problem but rather a pattern of thinking that can lead to self-doubt, negative self-talk and missed opportunities. It reflects the core belief that you are an inadequate, incompetent, and a failure — despite evidence that indicates you’re skilled and successful.

How do you Know if You Have Imposter Syndrome?

• You will play down your success

• You will hold back from doing your job because you think you are a fraud

• Can’t accept accolades 

• Lack self-confidence

• Self Sabotage 

• Overachieving

• Fear that you won’t live up to expectations

How Does Imposter Syndrome Affect Your Personal and Professional Life?

It instils self-doubt and low self-esteem – people will reject praise, downplay achievements and allow others to take the acclaim.

Impedes career growth – sufferers may not demand or even expect a promotion or a pay rise, or may simply not push themselves forward at work.

Hampers leadership and management – sufferers will feel vulnerable and fear being exposed which makes taking tough, unpopular decisions harder and showing strong leadership less likely.

Restricts innovation and risk taking – fearing failure inhibits creativity and inventiveness

Affects mental health – creating stress, anxiety and feelings of isolation. 

How Can We Stop Feeling Like and Imposter?

1.   Break the silence. Shame keeps a lot of people from “fessing up” about their fraudulent feelings. Knowing there’s a name for these feelings and that you are not alone can be tremendously freeing. 

2.   Separate feelings from fact. There are times you’ll feel stupid. It happens to everyone from time to time. Realize that just because you may feel stupid, doesn’t mean you are.

3.   Accentuate the positive. The good news is being a perfectionist means you care deeply about the quality of your work. The key is to continue to strive for excellence when it matters most, but don’t persevere over routine tasks and forgive yourself when the inevitable mistake happens. 

4.   Develop a healthy response to failure and mistake making. Henry Ford once said, ‘Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.’ Instead of beating yourself up for falling short, work out what you can learn and improve upon in the experience.

5.   Develop a new script. Become consciously aware of the conversation going on in your head when you’re in a situation that triggers your Impostor feelings. This is your internal script. Then instead of thinking, ‘Wait till they find out I have no idea what I’m doing,’ tell yourself ‘Everyone who starts something new feels this way in the beginning. I may not know all the answers but I’m smart enough to find them out.’

6.   Visualize success. Do what professional athletes do. Spend time beforehand picturing yourself making a successful new management pitch or resolving a difficult dispute. It sure beats picturing impending disaster and will ease your stress. 

7.   Reward yourself. Break the cycle of continual approval seeking from others … pat yourself on the back, be your own cheerleader. 

3.   Fake it ‘til you make it. Now and then we all have to fly by the seat of our pants. Instead of considering ‘winging it’ as proof of your flaws, learn to do what many high achievers do and view it as a skill. Don’t wait until you feel confident to start putting yourself out there. Courage comes from taking risks.