HOW TO OVERCOME IMPOSTER SYNDROME IF YOU'RE AN ENTREPRENEUR

           Paradoxically, many successful entrepreneurs tend to underestimate their achievements, knowledge, and skills. Imposter syndrome (or imposter complex), which affects people prone to perfectionism, particularly irritates businesspeople of my generation—those who grew up with Soviet traditions and their mantras: "don't stand out, don't brag, be like everyone else," unhealthy modesty, and an instilled sense of guilt.

           Besides upbringing, genetic memory also plays a role—standing out in the "Soviet era" was, to say the least, dangerous. Talented and, moreover, successful people in that country lived uncomfortably and, most importantly, not for long. They were imprisoned, exiled, or shot.is also a survival skill formed over several generations.

           Of course, this is just one reason. Recently, a banker friend of mine said: being dissatisfied with oneself and one’s business is absolutely normal for an entrepreneur who is constantly growing and developing. Constant dissatisfaction is another driver of our growth and a condition for progress.

           I completely agree. I've been in business for thirty years, and I can't remember a time when I was completely satisfied. There was always something gnawing at me, pushing me towards new achievements. This may be the secret of success, but also the root of evil. Imposter syndrome particularly makes itself known when you have the opportunity to go public—being asked to write or speak about something. The reaction is paralysis and insecurity: "What could I possibly say that is interesting? I haven't done anything special!"

           Time has shown me that imposter syndrome is a very harmful and dangerous thing. We, as entrepreneurs, not only devalue ourselves and our achievements but also the work of those who work in our companies or projects. Therefore, it is worth trying to overcome it. Here’s what you should do and what I do.

         1. Recognize Your Experience

           As we rush through our busy lives, we often forget to pause, reflect, and assess the path we’ve traveled. I believe it’s essential to articulate or, better yet, write down your achievements. Briefly summarize: "What skills do I have? What have I built? What do I know? How many years have I been doing this?"

            List your achievements and those of your company or project—briefly but clearly. Then, reread the list. You'll find it includes many commendable things. In general, can a person who has been doing their job for twenty or thirty years really be called an imposter? I doubt it.

          2. Start Public Speaking

            This is challenging. Talking about yourself and your professional experience is a true departure from your comfort zone, accompanied by fear and insecurity. But the result is worth it. To start, you can talk with friends, acquaintances, and relatives.

            Next, conduct a seminar for your team, speak at a conference, or prepare a publication for a professional journal. A good idea is to organize an event for participants in your market and gather industry colleagues. The main thing is to start, overcoming your fear.

           The preparation itself—drafting theses and slides—has a strong therapeutic effect for an "imposter." Moreover, such presentations provide an opportunity to quickly receive feedback from the audience. Every question or remark is a chance to strengthen your expertise. It's especially good when someone disagrees with you—in a professional debate, you reaffirm your understanding of your field.

          3. Share Your Wisdom

            Wisdom, both in life and business, is the result of many years of accumulation. It is formed more through our failures and mistakes than through our successes. Sharing wisdom is harder than sharing professional expertise—it's the next level, which plays an extremely important role in overcoming imposter syndrome.

            In my speeches, I often use this metaphor: our life is like a bowl that accumulates experience, wisdom, and knowledge. There comes a moment when the bowl overflows—it starts to stagnate, bloom, and its contents turn into a swamp. It is very important to open the faucet and start sharing. The more we share, the more we can gain new knowledge and wisdom. I realized that some of our knowledge (as well as money, energy, etc.) is not ours at all—they are given to us to pass on to others.

            Sharing is natural for us: we share experiences with our children, subordinates, teams, and friends. Some of our knowledge is meant for those who come to us for advice.

            When we start sharing, the first steps can be very uncomfortable, but the feedback we receive is inspiring and motivating. For example, after one of my speeches at a forum for young entrepreneurs, a young man approached me. My words about how you can't build anything beautiful in a basement made an impression on him. He asked me to elaborate on this idea since he was considering moving his production out of a "basement" (in his case, a garage) to a decent facility. This required time and significant investment for him, so he was carefully weighing the feasibility of this project.

             I said: "You can create a masterpiece in a basement, but only once. After that, you will be scaling the basement. If you see beauty around you, you create beauty; if you see dirt and chaos, you create dirt and chaos."

             I must admit that many years ago, I as well left the basement and consciously, at the cost of significant effort, time, and investments, moved towards a beautiful, large factory. The young businessman thanked me for helping him make his decision, and I, in turn, spent the entire night thinking about my own journey—from the basement to the factory. These memories served as yet another powerful dose of antidote to self-deprecation.

             The growing dissatisfaction and self-deprecation drove me to go beyond my factory in Chernihiv and start sharing what I had learned over many years in the complex machine-building business. Now, I publish, write books, speak on stage, and mentor other businesspeople. Have I completely rid myself of imposter syndrome? Not entirely. It is a long journey.

             Imposter syndrome won't dissolve on its own; it can't be conquered by lying at home in a warm bath or talking to a mirror. You have to go out and speak publicly, declare yourself, despite the fear and trembling knees.