Dealing with imposter syndrome
Imposter syndrome is the feeling of self-doubt about accomplishments in the work environment. People can often think “Why me?” when invited to speak at an event or when putting themselves forward for a promotion.
Lauren mentioned one of the key ways she has dealt with this over the years: by surrounding herself with a group of ‘cheerleaders’. When looking to make the next leap in her career, Lauren described how this group of women has been there to support her:
“Whenever I would try to talk myself out of it, they encouraged me to go for it. They highlighted the achievements I had made so far in my career. Finally they convinced me to ask the difficult question – I got the promotion I applied for.”
The rest of the panel also shared their advice. For anyone feeling imposter syndrome after being invited to speak on a podcast or at an event, Mandy urged:
“It’s important to remember that you were asked to be there. There is a reason why you were asked and your opinion should be valued.”
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Women Taking the Stage: Building Confidence to Shine
Managing public speaking anxiety
As individuals progress in their careers, there is often the need to speak more frequently in front of a large audience. It can be daunting and nerve-racking for many people. I shared some of the tips I’ve learnt for managing this in my career so far:
- Be yourself. There are many ways to be an engaging speaker. What is most likely to work best in the long run is becoming a more confident version of yourself.
- Get comfortable with who you’re on stage with. I have a friendly chat with those I’m about to speak with, which helps to ease nerves and make the conversation feel more natural when I’m on stage or on a webinar.
- Listen back to yourself. Get hold of the recording of the event, podcast or webinar you were on. It’s painful to listen to our own voice at first, but it gets better and it can be beneficial to help you improve your speaking and presentation skills over time.
- Knowing it’s okay to say no sometimes. Even though a speaking opportunity may seem great, it may not always be the right time for you. But if it turns into a pattern where you feel like you’re saying no to opportunities too often, then maybe it’s time to challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone.
- You have more time than you think to answer a question. Responding to live questions during an event can seem like a big challenge. But you can give yourself a few seconds to collate your thoughts before responding. If it is a question that you would rather take away to think further about or don’t know the answer to, don’t be afraid to say you will refer back or that you don’t know.
The benefits of mentorship
Having a mentor can be a great way to get career advice and to learn about individuals’ different paths. Jessica highlighted how this can be particularly helpful for women:
“Women in the workplace can experience situations in a unique way. It’s helpful to have someone who understands this and supports you. It is also great for this person to be in a position you can aspire to.”
The panel highlighted some other great tips about mentorships:
- As a mentee, it’s important to have clear goals on what you want to get out of the relationship. You will get more from the experience if you have a plan.
- Mentorship relationships don’t have to be formal. You can have a lot of informal mentors that can act as good sounding boards.
- Ask your mentor for someone else you could speak to. This helps you to continue building your network.
You can still help young people without needing to be their mentor – a quick message can go a long way. If you have heard someone on a podcast or at an event, letting them know you thought it was great, even if you don’t know them, can help to build their confidence.
What can men do?
The final audience question the panel answered was how men can support women in the work environment. The panel made several key points:
- Give women the space to make their own decisions about how they want to progress their career.
- Clearly position yourself as an ally so women know they can talk to you about particular issues.
- Be empathetic – don’t be afraid to directly ask women how they are feeling and getting on at work.
Thank you to Susi Ozkurt, our Events Director, for putting on a great event. Keep an eye out for more webinars in our series aiming to help women thrive in insurance.
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