High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset - 633: How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome

Episode Date: July 29, 2024

In this episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff shares the history of the Impostor Syndrome, what to do when you experience it, and why many high achievers experience feelings of an impostor. Power Phrase of the Week: “I believe in myself and my ability.” Quote of the Week: "Believe you can and you're halfway there" - Theodore Roosevelt

Hi, friends. My name is Dr. Sindra Kampoff, a national leader in the field of sport and performance psychology. Every week, I'm on the local radio sharing my top tips on exactly how to develop the mindset of the world's best so you can accomplish all your dreams. Get ready for a jammed, packed episode focused on practical tips to help you get after your goals and step out of your comfort zone. Let's go. It is time to check in with Cinder Kampoff. This morning, we talk about how to overcome imposter syndrome. Now, Cinder, this is a huge topic. Start us off with a quote. I like this quote by Theodore Roosevelt, and he said, believe you can and you're halfway there. Now, what inspired the topic today?

Well, I bet people have heard of the term imposter syndrome. It's become kind of a buzzword in recent years, but the concept was first discussed in 1978 by two researchers named Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes. And they wrote a book or an article actually called The Imposter Phenomenon in High Achieving Women. And when women were asked about their success, some of the women attributed it to luck, while other people attributed it to their, like, overestimating their capabilities or their ability. And what did the authors find?

Well, so they defined this idea of imposter phenomenon as an internal experience of intellectual phoniness, which is kind of an interesting definition, but what they found was that these women who experienced the phenomenon also experienced anxiety, a lack of self-confidence, depression, and frustration, and they weren't able to meet their own kind of standards for their own success.

And over the years, we found that the feeling of imposter, where you feel like, you know, you're going to be found out, like you're a fraud, actually affects both men and women. And, you know, it's something that I hear pop up a lot in the media, or maybe when you're talking with your colleagues or your friends. So what was important about the name that they gave this experience to? Well, notice how when you started today, you said the word syndrome. And then when I was describing these two researchers and their study, they actually called it phenomenon. And you're more likely to kind of hear it described as the imposter syndrome. And that

might seem like a small difference, Lisa, but I think it's actually pretty significant. You know, the word phenomenon means just a fact or an event, whereas the word syndrome, usually it's described as like a sign or symptoms that kind of occur together or some kind of condition. And I think that's a big difference. You know, phenomenon simply means it's a reality or an event, whereas syndrome implies that there's something wrong with you. So what do you think about it all?

Well, that's a good question. I would say I believe the term phenomenon is more accurate because everyone can feel like an imposter or a fraud. And if you're experiencing feelings like an imposter, I actually think there's nothing wrong with you and that you're not alone. In fact, on the High Performance Mindset podcast, I interviewed an author named Dr. Jessamine Hibbert. She wrote the book Imposter Cure, and it's a really great book. And she describes that around 70% of people can share this experience, where, you know, especially the feelings like an imposter can infect really high competent, high achieving people. And you can listen to her episode. It's 575 is the episode

number if you want to listen to it. Okay, and that's on the high-performance mindset. But what would you tell us to do when we feel like we are being an imposter or we are an imposter? Well, what I would tell you to do is, like confidence, imposter syndrome and the feelings of it or phenomenon, whatever we want to call it, can actually come and go. And it can show up in some areas of your life and not others. And we often misinterpret the feelings of discomfort as something new, especially like when we're trying something new or we're pushing ourselves that we feel inadequate, instead of just that these feelings are a normal part of pushing out of your comfort zone and trying something, you know, new. And that's what I prefer would prefer you to do is interpret the feelings of this imposter as evidence that you're really going for it, that you're really pushing yourself towards your big goals and outside your

comfort zone. And typically, these feelings of an imposter triggered when you haven't met your own standards for yourself. And so just think about what is your definition of definition of success. And if you define success as the ability to do something well, you know, and accomplish things right away, then you're going to feel insecure and doubt yourself if it's more of a struggle. And what final piece of advice would you have for us today? You know, this is a normal way to feel. There's nothing wrong with you. In fact, Dr. Jessamine goes so far to say that it's simply the problems of being human. You know, when you're feeling like an imposter, I think you should call it a phenomenon and not a syndrome. There's nothing wrong with you. Cinder, do you have a power phrase for us this week? I like this one.

I believe in myself and my ability, and that will help you decrease feelings of an imposter. All right. Once again, if people want to go check out episode 575 of the High Performance Mindset podcast, where do we find that? Where do we follow you? Yes, you can head over to DrCindra, that's D-R-C-I-N-D-R-A dot com. And you can find that episode if you just search Apple podcast High Performance Mindset 575. Way to go for finishing another episode of the High Performance Mindset. I'm giving you a virtual fist pump. Holy cow, did that go by way too fast for anyone else? If you want more, remember to subscribe.

And you can head over to Dr. Sindra for show notes. And to join my exclusive community for high performers, where you get access to videos about mindset each week. So again, you can add over to Dr. Sindra. That's D-R-C-I-N-D-R-A.com. See you next week.