“Fake it to make it”; We often hear this phrase used as advice to navigate situations where we don’t feel entirely confident or skilled. Maybe you’ve recently taken on a new role and find yourself thinking you lack experience, even though on paper, you’re the ideal candidate. Alternatively, your boss might have assigned you a task, and despite your impeccable track record, you feel unequipped to take the lead.
Impostor syndrome is that nagging feeling many of us experience at some point in our lives – the belief that our achievements are just strokes of luck, not a result of our potential. It’s that voice in our heads whispering, “You don’t deserve this” or “They’re going to figure out you’re not as capable as they think.” Whether at work, in school, or pursuing our passions, impostor syndrome can sneak in and make us question our own success. But here’s the thing: you’re not alone, and those feelings don’t define your worth or abilities. In this article, let’s explore the ins and outs of impostor syndrome and how we can overcome it together.
1. Understanding the Roots
Impostor syndrome often manifests in various ways. Being a straight A student in school, I entered college as a Computer Science major and within the first semester itself, I contemplated dropping out just because I found myself struggling to keep up with my peers who were also two to three years older than me. I fell behind on assignments and scored poorly on my exams. I couldn’t shake the thought that I didn’t deserve to be there and that I wasn’t smart enough. I realized later that what I was experiencing was indeed imposter syndrome. This is probably pretty common for individuals who grow up in a South-Asian household, where you are expected to excel in everything you do, especially academics.
If you ever find yourself dismissing compliments thinking your achievements were just luck or you hesitate taking on new challenges, recognize these thoughts and acknowledge that you’re not alone in experiencing them.
2. Embrace Your Unique Design DNA
Every designer has a unique blend of skills, experiences, and perspectives that shape their approach. Instead of comparing yourself to others, embrace what makes your design voice special. Recognize that your unique skills contribute to the diversity and richness of your work. Imposter syndrome often slips in when we underestimate our worth; instead celebrating small victories along the way can help build your confidence gradually. This in turn reinforces the belief that you are making progress and developing skills.
3. Cultivate a Growth Mindset
The world of design demands continuous learning and adaptation. By constantly doubting your abilities, you may shy away from taking on new challenges or pursuing opportunities for growth. If you constantly feel this way, you’d hesitate to even contribute your ideas or opinions during group discussions or design critiques. This can lead to a stagnation in your skills and knowledge, preventing you from reaching your full potential as a designer.
Jule Kim, an Executive Life Coach touches on this in the episode ‘Take the Compliment’ of The Futur with Chris Do where she says “That secret fear that I had never let myself actually voice was, “I don’t know if I’ll ever get better. I’m somehow so dumb I cannot improve.” But when I finally pushed through that, I would say the human experience, it is inevitable that you will grow and improve. It’s impossible not to, as long as you try.”
Rather than seeing challenges as threats that might expose your shortcomings, view them as opportunities for growth. Understand that skills can be developed over time. Embrace new tools, methodologies, and design trends with enthusiasm. A growth mindset will not only fuel your personal development but will also help you build resilience against impostor syndrome. By continuously learning and improving, you will gain more confidence in yourself and overcome these negative feelings.
4. Build a Supportive Design Community
Designers often share similar struggles and triumphs. Establishing connections within the design community provides a valuable support system. You can invest time in engaging in design forums, attending meetups, and networking with fellow professionals. Discussing your challenges and learning from others’ experiences helps normalise feelings of doubt and reinforces that you are not alone in this situation. A supportive community serves as a reminder that everyone, regardless of experience, encounters these feelings of uncertainty.
Here are a few design communities where I’ve discovered an exceptional level of support, spending a considerable amount of time engaging with the community:
- Design Talks on Slack
A space to both learn from others and share your knowledge with the community. Discussions range from UI/UX design, web design, illustrations, freelancing, design critiques and constructive feedback. - Adobe Creative Career Discord channel
A top choice for interacting with fellow designers, connecting with industry professionals for valuable feedback on any design-related questions, seeking career advice, or simply relaxing and sharing experiences. - r/userexperience on Reddit
A subreddit community with roughly 115K members where you can participate in discussions on a wide range of UX-related subjects.
Conclusion
Your narrative is not defined by impostor syndrome; it’s shaped by your continuous growth, and the firm belief in your own capabilities. Remember that everyone experiences moments of doubt; what matters most is how we choose to overcome them.
You are truly incredible and certainly not lesser than anyone!
