Conquering Imposter Syndrome

“What if someone finds out I am just winging it?” 

It's Lynn here to talk about an issue many of us grapple with at some point - Imposter Syndrome. Do you know those nagging inner doubts that creep in, making you question if you deserve your success? Been there, my friends!

One day, you feel confident when you have helped a client tremendously; other days, you begin to doubt that you know what you are doing!

Early on in my entrepreneurial adventures in launching a bookkeeping biz, I battled those same worries about getting "found out" as less skilled than people assumed. The fear of making mistakes paralyzed me at times. But through trial and error (and okay, sometimes tears!), I discovered tools to become my cheerleader.

The key is replacing negative self-talk like:

"I'm winging this whole thing!" with positive affirmations such as:  "I worked hard to earn my achievements."

I want to share 12 insider tips that helped me squash those imposter gremlins so you can stop worrying about what others think and instead feel proud of your capabilities.

1. Awareness: The signs of imposter syndrome can be feeling self-doubt, perfectionism, attributing success to luck, fear of failure, and comparing oneself to others (especially those in higher accounting positions).  You may compare yourself to others who seem to have more confidence. Simply recognizing imposter notions when they emerge diffuses their power.

2. Normalize the Experience: Imposter syndrome is common and affects many professionals, including highly successful individuals. You are not alone in experiencing these feelings; it does not diminish your capabilities. Even ultra-successful peeps wrestle with confidence. This struggle is surprisingly common.

3. Challenge Negative Thoughts: Talk back to your inner critic with evidence of your brilliance. Easier said than done, but once you recognize these thoughts, challenge them and replace them with the positive things you have done for clients.  Fake that confidence until you feel it!

4. Celebrate small wins: Give yourself credit for your accomplishments. You passed the Intuit exam! You fixed the client file. You receive a positive review on your Intuit profile.  Recognize the value you bring and remind yourself of your qualifications and achievements.

5. Set Realistic expectations: Take your clients one at a time and get one under control and stabilized before taking on another.   Refrain from comparing yourself to other bookkeepers or CPAs.   Don't compare your chapter 1 to someone else’s chapter 20.

6. Embrace Mistakes and Failure: Shift the perspective on mistakes and failures, emphasizing that they are opportunities for growth and learning. Adopt a growth mindset, which focuses on learning new skills and improvement. Embrace challenges as opportunities to expand your knowledge and skills rather than viewing them as indicators of incompetence.    Mistakes help us stretch our skills, so we see them as learning fuel.

7. Seek Support: Seek support from mentors, colleagues, or professional networks. There is a benefit in sharing experiences, receiving feedback, and gaining insights from others who have faced similar challenges. Join our Bookkeeping community group and Slack Channel for a positive experience. The community can inspire and ground you.

8. Focus on Continuous Learning: Invest in your professional development through ongoing learning. Seek professional bookkeeping coaching to ensure you are on the right track and to regain confidence. When we prioritize continual education, confidence follows.

9. Reach out to a CPA - My best experiences were with a CPA who forwarded me bookkeeping clients and then patiently helped me with the complex issues I was unfamiliar with.  I was able to reach out anytime I had a problem without judgment.

10. Show up and face your fears - Focus on being your best every day at every turn. Before each meeting, take a deep breath and say, “I am capable, resilient, and worthy of success.”  Then smile - it is contagious!

12. Practice Self-Care: Prioritize your physical and mental well-being by engaging in enjoyable activities.  Maintaining a healthy work-life balance and practicing self-compassion is a learned skill.   You can doubt your reason for going into remote bookkeeping when it's all work and no play. 

12. Stop the cycle of “overthinking”- Check your work and confirm that it is correct or run questions by our peer support group to reality check your work. This gives you a safe space to gain confidence. Remember that everyone starts somewhere, and asking for help when needed is okay.

Rinse and repeat, my friends! Beating imposter syndrome takes patience with ourselves. But with community support, a Mentor, and self-care, you CAN do this!   Be patient with yourself, take things one step at a time, reach out for support, and remember that you belong in your chosen career! 

Lynn Talbott is a teacher, trainer, and coach for bookkeepers.  She founded HR Business Solutions, which she recently sold to focus on coaching and mentoring independent bookkeepers to find their success. 

“Master the keys to success and reign in your career with me!”  Check her LinkedIn Profile or visit the website to sign up for our Community Support group for Bookkeepers. www.coachingbookkeepers.com