Why Overcoming Imposter Syndrome is Critical for #EachForEqual (IWD2020)
This week I am taking a look at international women's month and the whole theme of #EachForEqual. #EachForEqual is drawn from a notion of collective individualism:
“We're all parts of a whole. Our individual actions, conversations, behaviours, and mindsets can have an impact on our larger society.”
[International Women’s Day website]
Often we lack the courage to let ourselves be equal. In fact, research shows that over 60% of high performing men and women suffer from a self esteem issue called 'Imposter Syndrome'. If you are in that 60%, I assert that how you can overcome what gets in the way of your achieving the full potential of #EachForEqual for your self and for society at large is by identifying and dealing with your imposter syndrome.
Collectively, we can make change happen. Collectively, we can each help to create a gender equal world. We can all choose to be #EachForEqual.”
[International Women’s Day website]
I'm really delighted that international women's day has picked #EachForEqual this year. For the longest time I've been campaigning through The AuthenticYou Movement for people to be able to shine through their difference - to actually show up as their authentic selves, celebrate who they are, and be valued for what's different about them - so that collectively we can produce much better outcomes and we can get along effectively by appreciating and valuing the difference that each of us has to contribute. We can actively choose to challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations, and celebrate women's achievements.
"Collectively, each one of us can help create a gender equal world. Let's all be #EachForEqual.”
[ International Women’s Day website]
Right now in The AuthenticYou Movement we're looking at the ‘Art of Conflict Aikido’ which enables you to free yourself up and be at choice - able to choose which challenges you go for, which biases you have that get in the way of your success and be able to look from different people's thinking so that you can broaden your perceptions in a way that leads to improved situations.I love that #EachForEqual states:
‘Individually, we're all responsible for our own thoughts and actions - all day, every day.”
[ International Women’s Day website]
In order to achieve that, you have to understand why you behave the way you behave - which is what mindset is all about. From next week, we're going to start looking at a very particular aspect of your mindset that is to do with self-esteem - your ‘imposter syndrome’.
Your impostor syndrome is what stops you from showing up fully as your authentic self at work because you're afraid they'll find out. This fear leads you to cover up that risk, and you create your ‘steel suit’ to keep people from you so they can't reach deep enough to learn who you really are. But if they can't reach you, they can’t understand who you really are and they can’t start to connect with you beyond some kind of intellectual conversation that they don't quite get.
Over the next few weeks, as we go into International Women's Month, I'm going to share with you some tools and techniques for identifying and overcoming your imposter syndrome.
I'm really excited about that. I can't wait!
I'll catch up with you again next Monday to explore how imposter syndrome gets in the way of #EachForEqual.
Have a fantastic week!
Ishreen