We have been talking for several weeks about mental health and how important it can be to business owners especially given the current perfect storm of financial pressures they are facing.
While over-confidence can be dangerous, so too can another condition, known as imposter syndrome.
Originally thought to affect mainly high-achieving professional women, psychiatrists now believe it is more widespread and can affect up to 30% of business decision makers.
Imposter syndrome is characterised by a feeling of being a phony in some area of your life, despite any success that you have achieved in that area.
It can be undermining liked as it is to a fear that someday the person affected will be found out and exposed as a fraud.
There are several characteristics from the perfectionist, the expert, the natural genius to the super person and they all lead to an inability to be realistic about the sufferer’s achievements, competence and skills.
It leads to constant anxiety and a lack of the ability to believe in oneself. It may also lead to a belief that if as a business owner your business is in difficulties or insolvent, you are solely to blame.
To combat imposter syndrome sufferers should avoid comparing themselves to other people and avoid a constant push to perfectionism. Accept that everyone makes mistakes.
It can help to have a mentor and to talk to someone.
We specialise in offering practical help to businesses in trouble to help them to restructure if that proves to be the best option.
The first step is to book a free strategy and viability review with us to talk through your situation.
You can find out more here.