Imposter syndrome is a phenomenon in which individuals doubt their skills, accomplishments, and talents and have a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud. This can be particularly prevalent in women of color in the business world due to societal stereotypes and systemic barriers that can make them feel like they don’t belong or don’t deserve their success. In business, imposter syndrome can take many forms. Business owners may downplay their achievements, attribute success to external factors, or constantly compare themselves to others in their industry. Feelings of anxiety, fear of judgment, and hesitancy to take risks are also common indicators. Having a risk-averse mindset can be particularly problematic as an entrepreneur if you are trying to grow and/or scale your business. Imposter syndrome can be debilitating mentally and emotionally, drain your energy and attention, and cause you to fall short of the performance you are capable of, feeding the cycle of self-doubt.
A recent article in Harvard Business Review determined that while awareness of the contributing factors to imposter syndrome is helpful, understanding it does little to end it. Instead, the author argues that you need to take action. And to take action, you need what is referred to as “moxie”.
Moxie is an intensity of motivation and is related to (but distinct from traits such as grit, self-control, and the ability to overcome procrastination). According to research conducted by Keith Dorsey, Ph.D., the attributes of moxie – the strength of will, self-discipline, and the ability to persist despite challenges are vital to the success of women of color at the director level in corporate America. The directors neither internalized the obstacles they encountered as personal failures nor did they externalize them as irreconcilable systemic barriers. Moxie was a response to their childhood experiences of racism, sexism, micro-aggression, and other difficulties.
How to Make Moxie Your Superpower
- Utilize the strengths you’ve forged through culture-based hardships- Women of color have endured centuries of hardship and oppression, and through these, they have forged attitudes and approaches that give them unique advantages regarding racism-related coping and post-traumatic growth following racial trauma. Tabitha Grier-Reed and colleagues at the University of Minnesota have found that deepening your connections with others, harnessing your inner strengths, developing fresh perspectives and appreciation for life, and connecting with your spirituality, in particular, help us grow and flourish in our careers and life. To turn your hardships into moxie, identify a challenging situation from your past that you ultimately overcame. Reflect on how you got through it and how you resolved the situation. Finally, formulate these as the principles you learned and strengths you gained.
- Give yourself permission to play – “Play” isn’t a fake it till you make it situation. It’s about authentically growing into new roles by trying new behaviors, gaining confidence, and allowing yourself time for development. To foster your own identity, think of a business situation where you are still on a learning curve. Break the situation or role into a series of small learning experiences with deliberate action planning, experimentation, and gathering data on your performance. Then repeat the cycle.
- Tune out the naysayers – And there will always be some. Micro aggressions from business partners, clients and even employees can and do happen. It’s helpful to acknowledge these systemic issues as realities, to address them head on and to seek out support from others around you. Don’t buy into the idea that this is “your problem alone to fix”. For example, one solution might be to join a professional organization with other women who self-identity with your race/ethnicity for support and who, in some cases, can even advocate to help you change the problem at a systemic level. Working with others to tackle institutional issues like racism and sexism for example can bolster a sense of self-confidence, empowerment and self-efficacy. And when you experience criticism, begin by reframing it as a hypothesis (e.g., “The plan will now work”). Next, identify ways to test the hypothesis, such as by getting feedback from trusted mentors or conducting a low-risk proof of concept. Third, gather data and test the hypothesis. Regardless of the results, you will gain concrete and actionable feedback that will help you progress.
- Recognize when to walk away – Imposter syndrome often is used to mask systemic bias and racism within groups and organizations. This means that moxie won’t work in every situation. When you encounter an obstacle, take time to assess the competencies, energy, and passion you would need to overcome it, and then soberly evaluate whether you want to invest your resources in this way. When you deliberately evaluate the obstacles facing you, you will either take on the challenges fully informed, or reallocate your abilities in more suitable environments.
By addressing imposter syndrome head-on and taking steps to build and maintain their confidence and self-worth, women of color can overcome these negative feelings and thrive in their careers and lives.