How BIPOC leaders can move from imposter syndrome to self-advocacy
It’s not uncommon for the BIPOC leaders we work with to experience imposter syndrome throughout their careers - a feeling of deep self-doubt and inadequacy in their roles, despite having plenty of external evidence of success.
At Real You Leadership, we understand how imposter syndrome can hold you back in your career and personal growth. That’s why we teach strategies and practice to overcome this mindset, let go of shame and fear, and confidently advocate for yourself, your ideas, and the positive change you want to see in your career and workplace.
If you're struggling to advance in your career and be recognized as a powerful leader who makes an impact in your role, here are three powerful ways you can start moving from imposter syndrome to self-advocacy:
1) Acknowledge and Celebrate Yourself
I know what it’s like to be “the only” -- the only woman, the only woman of color or person of color, in the room, on my team, and in the whole organization. It created a long-term unshakeable feeling that I didn’t belong there, that I didn’t deserve my accomplishments, and that I somehow was “fooling everyone.”
It didn’t matter how many excellent performance reviews, daily compliments, and recognition I got, the imposter voice in me wouldn’t allow me to accept and receive the goodness in my professional life that I created.
This is a common experience our clients have to navigate internally and externally every single day. It can be difficult for BIPOC leaders, and the first step to letting this go is to acknowledge and be honest about your feelings of self-doubt because we can’t move through, overcome and heal what we can’t, don’t, or won’t name.
Normalize that everyone, even the most successful people and leaders you admire and respect so much, has the same human experience of self-doubt as you do.
Acknowledge that voice that says you’re “not enough” is going to pop up naturally as we learn and do new things, grow and advance in our careers and own our expertise as leaders.
Then practice intentionally shifting away from the imposter voice. One way we encourage all our coaching clients to do this regularly is to celebrate your wins instead of giving in to the imposter voice that wants to bring you down.
Learning how to acknowledge and affirm yourself unapologetically is an essential part of being an empowered leader. And, know that nothing is too big nor too small -- celebrate even the small incremental steps and little wins.
The reason the practice of self-celebration is so critical is that BIPOC women and femmes don’t get celebrated enough, because we’re taught early on in our childhoods that being humble is a virtue and showing off is a shameful act.
By intentionally focusing on your successes and progress every step of the way in a celebratory light, you'll build confidence and radiate positivity, signaling to your teams and stakeholders that they should do the same and advocate for you, too.
2) Practice Self-Compassion
Two major symptoms of imposter syndrome are perfectionism and people-pleasing for likeability as a preservation tactic. This can result in overworking, overextending, and overwhelming yourself to the point of burnout and further losing self-esteem.
Something we ask each of our clients who are all recovering perfectionists, and shame or guilt themselves for being imperfect, making mistakes, and not knowing all the answers is:
“When in your life have you ever been whatever version of perfection your mind is telling you to be, even for one second?”
The answer is always a stunned, “never.”
My vision for the future of leadership is one that is fully committed to the psychological safety of every team member, so everyone can make mistakes, get creative, learn, and grow without the fear of repercussions, punishment, rejection, and shame.
Part of being able to co-create that and cultivate that on your teams, no matter what role you’re in, is to lead by example and unapologetically share your self-compassion practice. That is to openly treat yourself with kindness, tenderness and forgiving yourself for any challenges, mistakes, self-doubt, and any lack of knowledge you currently have for every part of your job.
Normalize that you’re a human and deserve grace and support to overcome challenges, resolve any missteps and grow as a professional and leader in your role and team.
Affirmations some clients have boldly claimed in their self-compassion practice, that you can take on your leadership journey to start advocating for your needs in your career advancement unapologetically.
“I am worthy of asking for and receiving recognition for my work and achievements, just as I am.”
“I forgive myself for not knowing everything, and that was never meant to be the goal.”
“I don’t need to change a thing nor do I need to prove that I deserve more support.”
Remember, your experience as a BIPOC leader is not solely a result of your own actions or abilities, they are due to external factors like systemic inequity and exclusion. Learn to be more forgiving and understanding towards yourself, and let go of self-blame to cultivate a more positive practice of self-love and self-trust.
3) Practice Self-Assertiveness
It’s important for BIPOC leaders to recognize that imposter syndrome is not a reflection of their abilities, accomplishments, the value of their work, or even their proximity to power, but rather a result of systemic barriers and the pressure of societal expectations.
Don’t wait for more years of experience or a next-level role and promotion to connect with your confidence and self-advocate.
Many people believe that as they gain more experience and “move up the ranks” and gain positional power as professionals, they’ll eventually stop feeling like an imposter. And, in our experience at Real You Leadership, coaching hundreds and training thousands of BIPOC leaders, we’ve found that this is often not the true experience that unfolds.
We work with BIPOC leaders who are decades into their careers in senior, VP, and executive roles, and face common challenges in our workplaces, such as tokenism, microaggressions, bias, and discrimination.
These harmful experiences reinforce feelings of self-doubt, shame, and inadequacy, making it extremely difficult to overcome imposter syndrome symptoms, like perfectionism, avoiding feedback and praise, comparing yourself to others unfavorably, and the constant fear of being exposed as a fraud or a failure.
Self-advocacy requires self-assertiveness, an essential skill for BIPOC leaders to combat and overcome imposter syndrome by speaking up to assert your expertise, knowledge, value, and vision on the teams and communities you serve.
We understand that sharing your ideas and advocating for your needs can be scary and challenging for BIPOC leaders who have been conditioned and socialized to be submissive and over-accommodating. However, confidently asserting yourself by sharing your ideas, perspective, achievements, and goals with others can lead to greater recognition and respect from your colleagues and stakeholders; this is critical for your advancement as a leader.
Ways you can practice and build your assertiveness muscles little by little today:
Speaking up more in meetings
Setting boundaries around your workload, time, and wellness needs
Sharing your unfiltered needs, wants, and dreams with others
Ask for feedback and advice to grow as a leader
Giving feedback and advice to others
Take the first step towards your personal and professional growth by giving yourself the credit you deserve, celebrating your progress, practicing self-compassion, and asserting yourself in your career.
Join our next cohort of rising and established leaders who want to stand out in their own way, speak for the value of your work, and lead boldly without sacrificing integrity.
Leadership & Negotiation Coach for Women of Color in Technology|Founder|Workshop Facilitator, Speaker & Trainer
Nadia’s career and leadership expertise has been featured in CNBC, HuffPost, FastCompany, New York Times Kids, and The Muse.
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