3 Practical Ways to Overcome the Impostor Syndrome, Per Alex Only

Sometimes self-doubt can cross into the territory of imposter syndrome. Even if people are not familiar with the term, they are likely familiar with the symptoms. Imposter syndrome is a psychological condition that causes people to doubt their talents, skills, and accomplishments. They often have a persistent fear of being called out as a fraud.

Alex Only has another name for the imposter syndrome: the career killer. “It’s one thing for others to doubt you, but a different story when you doubt yourself. Why should others believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself?” quips Alex Only. He shares three practical ways to overcome imposter syndrome.

Assess Your Abilities

Countless people keep a journal for various reasons. If you don’t, now is the time to start! Write your thoughts and feelings as the first step to overcoming a problem and confronting it. Next, write down your interests, talents, and accomplishments. If you have anything tangible that you can add (like photos or documents), be sure to include these! Compare these achievements to your self-assessment, and you will realize that there is a reason you have accomplished these rewards or milestones.

Take Small Steps

“Do not focus on doing things perfectly; focus on doing them right. Imposter syndrome can creep up when you feel overwhelmed,” believes Alex Only. He advises that to keep from getting overwhelmed, you must break down goals into smaller milestones and complete tasks systematically rather than tackle everything in one fell swoop. Small steps also reduce the risk of mistakes and give you more room to make better decisions. As you achieve each small goal, reward yourself and enjoy some self-recognition as this is a potent tool for fighting the imposter syndrome.

Stop the Comparisons

Alex Only advises that one of the best things you can do to stop or even prevent imposter syndrome is not to compare yourself to other people. We are all different and have varying interests, goals, priorities, motivators, and learning styles. It is irrational to compare yourself to others because you might have two entirely different lives.

On the other hand, Alex Only urges limiting exposure to social media! While social media can be a beneficial tool, it is also a source of insecurity and inferiority. Not to mention countless posts are fake or make people’s lives look a lot rosier than they actually are.

By following these simple steps, Alex Only believes that people can gain confidence, recognize their true potential and overcome imposter syndrome. He has witnessed many follow these practical steps and bounce back from a dark place when this career killer affected them. Luckily, they were able to regain control and prosper rather than perish.