Thoughts on Imposter Syndrome
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This post is refurbished from a recent email we sent to our subscribers.
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A couple of weeks ago, I asked our readers to send in suggestions for topics that they’d like us to cover with this newsletter. As usual, you all didn't disappoint...
We got a lot of fantastic questions, but for this week, we're gonna get into my thoughts on Imposter Syndrome. Here we go:
This is a great question. And at the risk of giving you a non-answer, I think you've already figured out the solution. You just have to "embrace" Imposter Syndrome. Because here's the deal -- it's not going anywhere.
Earlier this week, I got together with a group of pharmacist friends. These are people that I've always admired. They're dedicated, data-driven, and always put the patient first. As they started talking about what they were doing with work, I couldn't help but feel...inadequate. These are my friends, and they are WAY better at "pharmacisting" than I am.
Another time this week, I found myself giving a presentation to the P&T Committee at what I affectionately call "real job." This is group comprised mainly of medical oncologists, and I was presenting data that I knew would lead to a lot of questions and a lengthy discussion. While prepping for the presentation, I felt a lot like this:
*Brandon at the P&T Meeting
Ask me to present something to a group of folks that are new to oncology? I'm golden. I don't even need slides. Just let me dive right in.
But ask me to present something to a group of people that almost certainly know more about the topic than I do? I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing and that I don't belong.
And that, my friend, is called Imposter Syndrome.
I have accomplished a fair bit so far in the pharmacy world. I have two board certifications. I've risen to a leadership position in my real job. And I co-founded tl;dr pharmacy, which let's me send emails like this to you and over 35,000 other people.
I don't say that to brag. My point is this: What else do I have to prove to myself in order to not feel like an imposter?!
The answer should be pretty obvious. Nothing. My Imposter Syndrome isn't going away any time soon.
But you know what? I can EMBRACE it. I can use it as fuel. It can help me pay just a little bit more attention to the patient I'm working up. To make sure I didn't leave something out when I'm reviewing data for a presentation. To continually improve my writing and communication for next tl;dr article or newsletter.
We all live inside our own heads, and that gives us a skewed perspective of what other folks think of us. Most people aren't actually paying much attention to you. They're too busy dealing with their own doubts and insecurities. No one else notices YOUR imposter syndrome that you're wearing around like a scarlet letter.
Imposter Syndrome can be useful if you let it. The trick is to find that golden, Aristotelian mean in the middle of the spectrum. If you have no insecurities, then you're narcissistic and overconfident. You will eventually be wrong and the house of cards will come crashing down. But on the other hand, if you let your doubts run wild, you will be crippled and you'll never be able to make a decision or take the first step of action.
Imposter Syndrome and feeling outside of your comfort zone are good for you. It shows you stretching your boundaries. And that's where growth happens. That's how you get better. Whether it's preparing for residency, a presentation, a job interview, or launching a business.