Battling Imposter Syndrome

If you relate to this, you could very well be experiencing imposter syndrome.

“Imposter syndrome feels like constantly looking over your shoulder thinking that at any moment, someone is going to walk in and take your spot because you’ve been figured out, and you actually do not belong in the position that you’re in,” says Chassidy Deckard, Director of Administration at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and a member of the Houston Chapter. “You find yourself continuing to try to prove you are worthy by acquiring more degrees and certifications, sitting on boards, attending professional development activities and still at times feel that you are not enough.” 

So where do these feelings of inadequacy come from? In modern society, imposter syndrome is pretty common. The American Psychological Association states that up to 82% of people feel it. According to Frank Thewes, LCSW, a therapist at Path Forward Therapy LLC, it arises when you are insecure, anxious and lack confidence.

“These seem to be traits that are all too common these days,” he says. “Social media makes everyone look like an expert, and we compare ourselves to these kinds of popular archetypes.”

Along with influences from the outside world, imposter syndrome may take hold if you have negative experiences in your past or certain personality traits. Faisal Tai, a board-certified psychiatrist and Chief Executive Officer of PsychPlus, says that it can come from perfectionism, early life experiences and internalized beliefs.

“It often occurs when individuals attribute their success to luck or external factors rather than acknowledging their own capabilities, leading to a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud.”

WHY LEGAL ADMINISTRATORS EXPERIENCE IMPOSTER SYNDROME

In the highly competitive and stressful legal world, imposter syndrome often takes hold.

“It is a very fast paced and competitive environment, usually high stakes and high pressure, often led by attorneys,” says Michelle D. Cohen, Director of Human Resources and Office Manager at Schneck Law Group LLC and a member of the New Jersey Chapter. “You literally have a microcosm of competitive humans that are all doubting themselves and needing to be right all the time. Throw in humans with life experiences … and you have a mix that will be perfect for tapping into just about everyone’s insecurities on some level.”

The way law firms are structured also makes them an environment ripe for imposter syndrome.

“Employees are often grouped into two categories: lawyers and ‘non-lawyers,’ says Deckard. “Many legal administrators have imposter syndrome because they are often viewed as a non-lawyer. By being in a class of something that you are not, it can cause one to feel like they do not belong and do not have the ability to succeed in that environment.”

“Social media makes everyone look like an expert, and we compare ourselves to these kinds of popular archetypes.”

Additionally, it’s been proven that women and people from diverse communities are more likely to struggle with imposter syndrome. According to Deckard, this is because many diverse professionals grow up hearing phrases like “you have to work twice as hard” or “fake it ‘til you make it.”

“When we enter a law firm with that mindset — feeling like you’re working harder than everyone, surrounded by coworkers that do not look like us — it can feel very isolating,” Deckard says. “It’s easy to begin doubting our abilities and feeling like frauds, and although we’ve ‘made it,’ we still question if we are still faking it and wonder when someone is going to figure it all out.”

COMBATING IMPOSTER SYNDROME

You may have been dealing with imposter syndrome your entire life, but that doesn’t mean you can’t fight the feeling and transform your mindset.

“We have to combat imposter syndrome because it is a lie,” says Thewes. “Imposter syndrome is a false belief about ourselves that if unchallenged can increase worry and anxiety. This can reduce our bandwidth for work, relationships and everything else we value.”

According to Cohen, imposter syndrome adds extra pressure and stress to what could already be a nerve-wracking situation. 

“We could use all that amazing energy to solve all the problems in the world rather than overthink what we are already excellent at in the first place,” she says. “It is wasted energy misplaced and self-tortuous, quite frankly. It is exhausting.”

“Employees are often grouped into two categories: lawyers and ‘non-lawyers.’ Many legal administrators have imposter syndrome because they are often viewed as a non-lawyer. By being in a class of something that you are not, it can cause one to feel like they do not belong and do not have the ability to succeed in that environment.”

If you have a false belief that imposter syndrome keeps you on your toes and pushes you to succeed, it’s time to dispel that and go forward with a more positive outlook. You can do that by first checking out the evidence, including your resume and past accomplishments.

“This is your North Star for battling imposter syndrome,” says Thewes. “You can’t argue with your list of past successes. They are the path you walked into your today on. That’s why you are where you are. Those don’t change because your self-confidence has taken a temporary dip. You’re so worried about future performance that you forget your track record of past achievement.”

This is something that Cohen has done.

“When I go back and listen to my guest appearances or see a video of me presenting on a national stage to colleagues, I think, ‘Wow, I sound so professional and smart!’’”

Additionally, Tai recommends seeking support from your peers, setting realistic goals and recognizing that nobody is perfect. “Building self-confidence and focusing on your skills can contribute to overcoming imposter syndrome,” he says.

For Deckard, doing daily positive affirmations and self-talk help combat imposter syndrome. As a legal administrator, it’s important to have a to-do list and keep track of everything you worked on throughout the day.

“Thank goodness for close pals from ALA. These are other people who do your job and have so many things in common just from a work perspective. Then add in the other issues or challenges, and you have humans with a lot of commonalities. It really was a game changer for me personally and professionally.”

“It’s rare that our day-to-day tasks are the same on a consistent basis,” she says. “I have a to-do list. On days when fires appear and change the trajectory of my workday, I notice myself feeling inadequate when leaving for the day without checking off a single thing on the to-do list. After processing those feelings, I decided to begin writing down tasks I completed each day that were not initially on my to-do list and checking those things off. Being able to find ways to turn negative feelings into something positive and feeling accomplished and fulfilled helps me be more productive.”

Of course, make sure you talk to other legal administrators, who are surely dealing with similar issues and can validate your feelings.

“Thank goodness for close pals from ALA,” says Cohen. “These are other people who do your job and have so many things in common just from a work perspective. Then add in the other issues or challenges, and you have humans with a lot of commonalities. It really was a game changer for me personally and professionally.”

Also don’t be afraid to ask for help or be vulnerable if you need to, Cohen advises. Sharing your struggles and admitting when you could use a hand can be effective not only when it comes to fighting imposter syndrome, but also making you more effective at your job and satisfied with it.

“Be proud that you are human,” Cohen says. “The more you are transparent and share appropriately with other colleagues, the sooner you level that playing field and make some allies who respect you along the way.”

Imposter syndrome — we all experience it in our daily lives. Talking about it is one way to get through it. We did just that with Roberta Bauer, Regional Office Administrator of Ogletree Deakins and 2023-2024 Chair of ALA’s Professional Development Advisory Committee, in a recent episode of Legal Management Talk. Plus, find out the solid advice The Berenstain Bears offer for working through feelings of insecurity. Check out the PDAC roundtable on imposter syndrome here. (Note: You must be logged in to view.)