Let’s talk about how we support each other, using a really strange study. In the podcast below they took similarly performing rats, but told human handlers, "this rat is slow" and then ran it through a race. The rat in question then underperformed.
npr.org/programs/invis…
npr.org/programs/invis…
And the rats that humans were told were stellar, ran faster. It turns out that the small ways that the humans were handling these rats changed based on these preconceived notions of them. And it actually affected the rats confidence in themselves!
Now lets apply that to humans. How much does it matter if you’re surrounded by people who support you? And value your work? That one friend of yours who is “negging” or doubting you, or making you feel uncomfortable, what does that cost you? Maybe a lot!
Having a supportive team might not be a nice to have. Your work environment can possibly also affect the quality of your work as well.
This is why I’m starting to dislike the term “imposter syndrome”. If you are surrounded by people who are doubting you, questioning your value, and making you prove yourself, you don’t have a syndrome. There is nothing about YOU that is wrong.
Respect for yourself might mean understanding that the doubts you have in your work are products of your environment. You can either move to another environment, or if you can’t, learn to second-guess the doubts that are imposed on you. And move away from blaming yourself.
You got this! Respect yourself by identifying and investing in the relationships where you help each other and make each other feel valued. You might just set your career on a better trajectory for it :)
And managers, please remember this when trying to get the best work out of your employees. Confidence in their abilities can go a long way.
