Imposter syndrome & miss my old team!

[CurryandSnuggle]

Help! I’ve started a new job in the same company but different area; it’s not a promotion but a sideways step. However the sideways move is a good opportunity for me as it’s a management job and it’s where I see my career going.

Unfortunately I am unfamiliar with the work my team do as it’s an entirely different area from what I’m used to, plus I need to do a significant amount of planning for resource which is really daunting and if I cock it up we could miss service level agreements and I could be in trouble. Basically I’ve got myself all in a tizz thinking they’ve picked the wrong person for the job and that I’m going to stuff it all up!! On top of this, I really miss my old team, we’re all mates and get on so well, and I was an expert over there, so it was a comfort blanket. I know I need to get comfortable with the uncomfortable but it’s super hard as I have bad imposter syndrome and I feel lonely at work! Any advice or words of support or wisdom would be greatly appreciated ❤️

First off, it always takes 6 months to settle into a new job, give it time.

Second, there must be someone you've identified as incompetent in the new time. Just think that if they are bumbling on ok then you must be doing VERY well.

Maybe write a list of everything you're doing well at and a list of 5 skills you want to improve in the next few months to help you feel more at home.

I can really relate to this and it’s a horrible feeling.

You are almost certainly doing much better than you think, otherwise isn’t it likely your boss would tell you?

It does take time to learn a new job and new way of working, it is only fair to yourself to give yourself that time. Months, not weeks.

My new job is actually a step down but it’s a new area for me after more than 20 years in my previous area. It’s a big change for me and I have had times of feeling incompetent but I am trying really hard just to give myself time.

I think it’s normal to have regrets and miss old colleagues. I really do, I had such a good team and it’s very different in my new team. I am naturally an introvert and I do struggle with getting to know new people so it’s not been easy, one day at a time is how I am doing it. And I remind myself that when I joined my previous team many years ago, I had the same worries and wanted to leave and I mostly loved my old workplace so it’s normal, just takes time.

I can also relate to this. It’s such hard work being somewhere new and doing something you are unfamiliar with. What you are feeling is totally normal. Stick with it, it sounds like a good move for you. Maybe look back at what you’ve learned at the end of each week, so you can see you are making progress.