Am I a Fraud in the Field?
Have you ever sat in a room and felt completely unqualified to be there? Yeah, I think we all have. Whether in a professional setting or a more relaxed environment, the feeling of being inferior, or lacking the know-how, is not a fun one.
Sometimes the feeling comes from genuinely not being in the right place, but most often it's from feeling like a fraud in your expertise area. Imposter Syndrome is more or less the feeling of “faking it til you make it,” but not at all faking it. This feeling is real and is difficult to maneuver, especially as young professionals. We may not have all of the experience or knowledge to be experts, yet we must remember - we are still learning to be the next generation of PR pros. But that does not mean that we must discount what we do know. Our knowledge is valid, useful, and incredibly insightful to veterans of the field. Unfiltered eyes offer insight into projects that are invaluable to employers to due the unique and fresh perspective that young people offer.
Battling the feeling of imposter syndrome is difficult, but reminding yourself of your worth, knowledge, and goals can subdue the nagging self-doubt. Remind yourself to use your self-doubt to your advantage every once in a while like Mike Cannon discusses in his TED talk.
There is a difference between humility and imposter syndrome
Learning the difference between the two is essential. Humility allows you to understand your downfalls and learn from them. Acknowledge your downfalls, but do not let them get you down. Remember your strengths, as well as how to improve upon them. Imposter syndrome often only allows you to see the roles that you are not successful at, or that you may not have the most experience with, although you are much more powerful than you realize. Understanding this difference can vastly improve attitude and confidence.
Being inexperienced is not a bad thing.
While sitting in a room and realizing you have the least experience or knowledge of everyone is never fun, it is not a bad thing. You are pushing yourself harder, and at a more accelerated rate. Be happy with your motivation and commitment to self-betterment.
From my time in classes, PRSSA, and GrandPR, I have experienced the feeling of being what I think of as a fraud, and I know many of my peers have as well. No one talks about it, but it is present. You may think to yourself; “Am I smart enough to be here?” but the fact of the matter is, if you were not smart enough to be there, you would not be. Those that are hungry for knowledge, experience, and insight are doing what they can to better themselves. Although that may lead to being in situations that leave you feeling like a fraud, you are simply bettering yourself with experiences that your classmates do not take advantage of.
Talk to those around you about the nagging feeling.
Imposter syndrome is not only affecting you. It may feel like it, but it is not the case. Initially, when I began feeling full of self-doubt, I feared no one else would understand, although over time I have realized that many of my peers have also experienced the fraudulent feeling. Talking with your peers about imposter syndrome in the PR industry is healthy, and can help you relate to each other.
Imposter syndrome is present in the industry, particularly in young professionals in the field. Combating the feelings of self-doubt and inexperience can lead to increased confidence in the workforce, and yourself in general. So push the feeling of being a fraud deep down and believe that you do have the know-how to make it in the PR industry. Your abilities outshine any negative thought you may have in regard to your lack of skill.
About Lindsay:
Lindsay Corwin is a sophomore at Grand Valley State University studying advertising and public relations with a PR emphasis, as well as a minor in writing. This is her first semester with GrandPR as an Account Associate and she is incredibly excited to gain more experience with the firm. In the future, Lindsay would like to work in crisis management or project management in the corporate world. Outside of being an active member of PRSSA and GrandPR, you can find Lindsay at a coffee shop, reading a good book, or being crafty.