Imposter syndrome - practical tips for overcoming?

[Imposter58]

Hi all, long-time poster but NC for this. Very much a first world problem but MN-ers have been so kind in the past, I thought I would ask.

I was wondering if anyone had any practical tips for overcoming imposter syndrome, or any reading material which (ideally!) led to a lightbulb moment?

I have just got this new job. I was a wildcard candidate, with a not-the-usual background. It is an amazing opportunity, am young to be at this senior level in this industry - where most of my peers in similar roles have a good 15+ years than I do.

But I feel like everyone (in as far as they think of me at all) must see I have so much to learn. My new team keep looking to me for answers, and I am giving sensible ones, but feel like I am flying by the seat of my pants and each answer takes a bit of research!

And even though in the last fortnight I have been lucky enough to win 2 industry awards, it only took one critical comment from an industry grandee - widely known to be a twat - about some work I have done for me to feel like I know nothing and that everyone is wondering why I was hired. It wouldn't normally affect me but it does now I am in my new role.

Really, I am not normally such a delicate flower - I am taking the fact that it has bothered me as a sign I need to get through my imposter syndrome soon (I recognise I.S. is helpful in encouraging me to prepare and read as much as possible but would appreciate not feeling like shit!)

Stories about how other seemingly successful people feel out of their depth would also be appreciated

No answers for you, just feeling your pain! I suffered from IP the whole of my career up to the point that I was a couple of years from retirement and didn’t feel like I had to impress anyone anymore. Interestingly neither of my dds suffer like I did. They both have high flying careers! I think its got a lot to do with how I was raised - youngest of 3 girls, parents wanted a boy, always left to it rather than actively praised or encouraged. Whereas I instilled a sense of capability in my girls.
Remember, no one knows it all, they just pretend they do! You’ll be fab!

Thank you soontobe60 and how wonderful to hear that about your daughters!

Not sure what the root cause of my feeling is. Maybe I am just a bit tired of always being the youngest person in the room (and being treated accordingly by others - until (mostly) they get to know me).

I am also the youngest of 6 but my parents were pretty encouraging (in a laid back kind of way). My siblings and I are all competitive on the career front...

I pretend I am a competent adult and them do and say the things my imaginary competent self would.

I am no help as I actually have up the job that I felt like this in. Apparently I come across as very confident but I’m not. I felt so out of my depth. Even though people told me that I was really helpful and when I was teaching other people to do the same job as me they said I was wonderful.

But underneath I’m not confident. And felt overwhelmed the entire time.
In the end I used one of my medical conditions to back out of the job. I regret it all the time. But it was only a matter of time till I messed up big times.

No, that is helpful paranoidmarvin, though I am sorry to hear it. Was there a particular incident or tipping point?