5 Tips for Dealing With Impostor Syndrome

5 Tips for Dealing With Impostor Syndrome5 Tips for Dealing With Impostor Syndrome When I started at XO Group, I had just left my career in investment banking. I would often tell others how lucky I welches to snag the CFO role, and I would promise my family, friends and former colleagues that, once Id racked up a few years in the role, Id finally be the real deal. Looking back, I realize that was impostor syndrome talking.Now, after almost four years at my job, I recognize that the CEO, mainboard of directors and employees were excited when I was hired as their new CFO. I got the job because I deserved it I had amassed the necessary experience - and, moraover, I was up to the task.While Im confident in the workplace today , that wasnt always the case. Over the years, Ive held many different jobs - from administrative assistant to research analyst and, later, from venture capitalist to CFO. In each of these roles, Ive had moments where Ive felt completely unqualifie d or overwhelmingly doubtful about my chances for success. These moments were paralyzing and extremely stressful.If youve convinced yourself that your accomplishments are only the result of dumb luck, of course youre going to feel like a complete fraud. And when these feelings begin to consume your everyday thoughts, impostor syndrome can seem impossible to overcome.The good news? Youre not alone. Its estimated that 70 percent of people will experience at least one episode of impostor syndrome . Even renowned American author John Steinbeck confessed in a 1938 diary passage I am not a writer. Ive been fooling myself and other people.Life is hard enough without having to inflict more pain on yourself. Simply put, give yourself a break Put one foot in front of the other and tackle each obstacle, issue, and fear with the mindset that youre learning and growing with each new day. If ridding yourself of the nagging impostor syndrome seems difficult, you can beat the blues by trying the b elow tips.I love people, and I love to laugh. So, I try to bring that joy to my day-to-day dealings. I try hard not to fit into a specific mold or live up to an arbitrary standard that people may have of me and my role. Essentially, I am branding my own take on my role, and that is very freeing.Theres no point in pushing yourself in isolation. Very little gets accomplished all on your own. Instead, surround yourself with people who are great at what they do, and encourage them to tackle big challenges. And be sure to take the time to learn from them as well.Appreciate and acknowledge your achievements - no matter how small - when you wake up each morning and before you go to bed at night. Every day before I leave for work, I write down my goals and plans for the day - what I want to accomplish and how Im going to do it. Before I turn in for the night, I recap the wins Ive had, what Im grateful for and what I learned that day. The key is not to dwell on the negative, but inste ad to see how losses can become learning experiences for the future.Theres no better way to continuously remind yourself of your expertise than to become a mentor . In helping others, you can share what youve learned throughout your career, which in turn will increase your own sense of self-worth. Its amazing what a 30-minute chat with a mentee can do for your confidence.Im grateful to have found a boss and team at XO Group whom I can be honest with. Our company culture inherently helps diminish impostor syndrome by promoting productive conflict, encouraging constant feedback and making sure that everyone in the room has a voice. Were constantly challenging each other - in a positive way - and were great at picking each other up if at first we dont succeed. If you work in a toxic environment , its no wonder if youre paranoid. Start positioning yourself now to transition to a more positive and encouraging company.Ultimately, we all want to get better every day. Use that mantra as motivation so that you can celebrate your achievements, take your mistakes in stride and accept the fact that your work will never be 100 percent flawless. And truly, thats OK. And when the worst happens, try to remember that the sun comes up every 24 hours, giving you another shot at a great day.This article was originally published on DailyWorth . It is reprinted with permission.