Impostor syndrome
Detrimental or motivating?
“Questioning your abilities doesn’t mean you have impostor syndrome. It’s a normal response to a new challenge or a difficult task. The absence of doubt breeds arrogance. Feeling unsure maintains humility. A lack of confidence is a reminder that you have something to learn.”
~ Adam Grant
At some point in your journey, you may feel like a fraud.
You doubt your abilities.
You think you don't deserve to be in your current position.
You think you are not good or smart enough, even though the reality is different: You have evidence that you did great on your job.
However, feeling unworthy can be stressful, and seeking justification or support that says you've done an excellent job is okay.
It's comforting, isn’t it?
But if you stop and do nothing just because someone speaks nicely about you, you will miss an opportunity to grow—to be even better than where you are now.
Feeling that you aren’t as worthy as where you are now isn’t necessarily bad. It can be reframed as an advantage to fuel your improvement.
Half a glass or even an empty glass represents readiness to be filled again, to learn anew.
It’s a reminder that you have something to learn.
Sometimes there are things you don't know. Sometimes you have to repeat what you have learned to get a new understanding.
"I have come to welcome impostor syndrome as a good thing: it's fuel to do more, try more. I've learned to use it to my advantage. I actually thrive on the growth that comes from self-doubt."
~ Halla Tómasdóttir
And not just gaining or sharpening knowledge. You also nurture good characters that can support you in working with others: you become more empathetic, respectful, and professional.
"Those who self-identified as impostors didn't do any worse in their diagnoses, and they did significantly better when it came to bedside manner—they were rated as more empathetic, respectful, professional, and more effective in asking questions and sharing information."
~ Adam Grant, Think Again
I know; I don’t want to sound too positive for you. If you feel you aren’t ready yet, take your time.
Sometimes your journey to becoming a better designer won't always be linear and moving forward.
Look at a slingshot; it can't have the momentum to throw a stone faster and higher without a backward movement. The fact is, the more it is pulled back, the stronger it is.
The question is: How much do you want to be pulled back, to feel uncomfortable, for a good reason?
"The more often they felt like impostors, the higher their performance reviews from their supervisors four months later."
~ Basima Tewfik, MIT professor
Here are three ways I can support your growth as a designer:
Purchase my book, "The Practice of Design Practice," to adopt mindsets and practical tips on how designers can engage as lifelong learners.
Purchase my UI Kit and Design System, Nucleus to level up and accelerate your process. I also share tips, and ideas on Nucleus Substack.
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