5 Forget Imposter Syndrome

Since you chose to spend your free time reading a book focused on developing yourself and your career, I have news for you: You are a high achiever!

I would also guess that when you read that last sentence you didn’t really believe me. Maybe you thought, ‘I’m just okay’ or ‘I’m good at some things but not a high achiever.’ Was I right? Strangely, many high achievers often suffer from what is known as ‘imposter syndrome.’ People with imposter syndrome tend to experience feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy, and fear of failure. Impostor syndrome is not officially diagnosed, however, psychologists do acknowledge it as a very real and specific form of intellectual self-doubt. And, imposter syndrome commonly shows up in individuals who are starting, trying to advance, or pivot their careers. (That’s you!)

When you apply for jobs without success or when you read about a new topic (like People Analytics) and still feel unsure and confused about exactly what to do next, you may start to feel like the problem is you. Once you get in this mindset, it’s hard to get out. Someone dealing with imposter syndrome has a hard time believing that they know “enough” or that they are “good enough” to apply for a certain job role, regardless of how much they learn, accomplish, or prove.

If you are reading this book because you want to get into People Analytics, but you worry you will look like a phony if you try because you believe you don’t have enough expertise, analytic skills, experience, or some other set of items you believe necessary, then I have sad but important news for you. If you start with this mindset you may never feel like you have enough. But don’t despair, I have equally happy and important news for you. You probably already do have enough to get started! In this book, I will help you identify and leverage the skills you already have and assess where you want to grow your skills as you go.

So, for now, I ask you to consider a few things:

First, keep in mind that a lot of people feel this way; it is normal. Don’t let it stop you from going for what you are interested in.

Second, if you are searching for some amount of experience, skills, or validation to leap forward in your career – it may not come from external sources. You need to consciously decide right now, that no one starts good at anything, and that you are further along each day than you were the day before. You might not completely get rid of the fear that you don’t know enough to have “earned” the career you are attempting and that’s okay. Use it as a reminder that we all need to be continuous learners and create a long-term learning plan to keep working our way up.

Finally, remember that you picked up this book and are taking the initiative. That already puts you miles ahead of others. You don’t need someone telling you that you have what it takes, but I can tell by the very fact that you are here, that you DO have what it takes!

I have taught, managed, and worked alongside:

• people who were “afraid of math” but found a passion for analytical problem-solving,
• people who went from having never heard the term ‘people analytics’ to holding a people analytics job title in less than 5 months,
• people who discovered they’d been doing people analytics all along and just didn’t know it,
• people just like you

A career in people analytics is available to anyone with interest and dedication. By picking up this book, you’ve shown that you have the passion and interest to focus on your development and growth. You already possess a unique set of skills, knowledge, and experience that will take you far. You are perfect for this, so go get it!