Impostor Syndrome – To Be Or Not To Be
I have heard this term Impostor Syndrome being thrown around over the last few years and I didn’t quite comprehend it fully till a conversation I had today.
I was at the salon and was chatting to my hairdresser about the levels of competency when it comes to teaching English – I was referring to the online bullshit tourist bus accent gurus who teach drivel and with utter confidence. I am an English Lit grad who taught teachers of English for almost a decade. Yet I still question my ability to be competent to teach English when there are those with not even an iota of my knowledge doing it so brazenly. Someone who was chatting with us chimed in saying that because people like me don’t teach, other people get away with mediocrity. She also told my hairdresser that she should start teaching coz not many know the basics. And she is right.
My hairdresser and I both agreed that we wished we had the confidence to be so brazen and out there teaching people, coz unlike the bullshitters we genuinely know our stuff.
And then it hit me – this is impostor syndrome. And I have this not only with regard to my English knowledge but also work – I have 15 years in the field of tea and still I question myself though I have every reason not to – coz I know what the hell I have been doing and it is good work.
Aaargh. I find it insane that there are so many out there touting themselves as experts when they’re not and there’s me wondering if I can do something I am good at simply coz I don’t have confidence in me.
Bloody hell. This hit different and I recalled a chat I had with a psychologist who told me, stop trying to gather qualifications, if you’re good at something you will learn it. You don’t need a certificate to prove it. Good advice. Now it’s time to take it.
To anyone out there who feels you’re not good enough. Stop and look around you at people who are getting away with far less than what you do and just do it.
