Imposter Syndrome
Discussion
I wasn't sure if to put this hear in in Health Matters...mods if you feel it needs to be moved please do.
Does anyone have any experience with imposter syndrome? I've been in my job for four years (police) and current role for a year. I don't feel like I should be where I am though and that I'll get found out. This is despite getting the highest score on the final exam during initial training of the intake along with the highest overall score on the role plays we got assessed on. Feedback has always been good with no issues raised. Probation was the same. Signed off with no issues at all.
Since my probation I had regular one to ones with my supervisor and no issues have been discussed. Same in my new role. Had a course for a month and scored very well on the final exam.
Yet I'm always doubting myself. Even little things that I know the answer to I find myself Googling to make sure. It's clearly a confidence thing, but how do I improve it?
Does anyone have any experience with imposter syndrome? I've been in my job for four years (police) and current role for a year. I don't feel like I should be where I am though and that I'll get found out. This is despite getting the highest score on the final exam during initial training of the intake along with the highest overall score on the role plays we got assessed on. Feedback has always been good with no issues raised. Probation was the same. Signed off with no issues at all.
Since my probation I had regular one to ones with my supervisor and no issues have been discussed. Same in my new role. Had a course for a month and scored very well on the final exam.
Yet I'm always doubting myself. Even little things that I know the answer to I find myself Googling to make sure. It's clearly a confidence thing, but how do I improve it?
Chicken Chaser said:
I don't think it's uncommon in the police although not many will probably say it and they'll just style it out. Some are from hardened backgrounds and might be quite used to some of the experiences, others just grow into the role
What I will say is that there are many different roles in the job and if all you've done is response, then you might find you suddenly feel much more comfortable doing something else. I had periods during my time in the job where I'd probably say I also had imposter syndrome, and probably most feel it in the probationary years at some point. I then found other roles where I was much more comfortable. Remember, we're all just grown up kids playing at this stuff called life. It's a measure of responsibility which you might grow into.
I know you've been thinking of getting out and that you keep coming back to this problem. If you're young enough, my advice would be to jump into something you enjoy. It doesn't sound like you're keen to go up the ladder and the money as a PC/DC can be earned in a lot of places now. It's no longer a well rewarded role.
I'm currently on traffic which has been my goal from the start (and from when I was a Special for ten years). I love my job. It really is the best. There is a lot of negative bits in the news at the moment and I'm currently reading the Casey Review which is really damming, but I still get excited about going into work and have a great squad of similar minded people who I get on brilliantly with. What I will say is that there are many different roles in the job and if all you've done is response, then you might find you suddenly feel much more comfortable doing something else. I had periods during my time in the job where I'd probably say I also had imposter syndrome, and probably most feel it in the probationary years at some point. I then found other roles where I was much more comfortable. Remember, we're all just grown up kids playing at this stuff called life. It's a measure of responsibility which you might grow into.
I know you've been thinking of getting out and that you keep coming back to this problem. If you're young enough, my advice would be to jump into something you enjoy. It doesn't sound like you're keen to go up the ladder and the money as a PC/DC can be earned in a lot of places now. It's no longer a well rewarded role.
Promotion isn't something I'm thinking of at the moment...mainly because I don't think I could pass the exam (but I also thought I'd failed all my exams I've taken so far...). But I enjoy the PC role and there are a few other roles I'd like to do which would be harder to do as a PS.
Scabutz said:
Yes I have it. Goes along with anxiety and suspected autism.
I found CBT quite helpful. Really imposter syndrome is a distorted thinking pattern. As you have expressed you feel like you shouldn't be there, despite the evidence suggesting that you very much are capable and in the place you should be. CBT teaches you to retrain how you think. Worked for anxiety as well to a degree.
Look at the evidence of your thought. Can you really back it up, or actually can you dispute it.
It really kicked off for me when I became a manager. Didn't know what I was doing, I had no training, I'm going to be found out.
Interesting that you have suspected autism...I've almost certainly got it myself. My ex has it as well and often felt the same about her job...I found CBT quite helpful. Really imposter syndrome is a distorted thinking pattern. As you have expressed you feel like you shouldn't be there, despite the evidence suggesting that you very much are capable and in the place you should be. CBT teaches you to retrain how you think. Worked for anxiety as well to a degree.
Look at the evidence of your thought. Can you really back it up, or actually can you dispute it.
It really kicked off for me when I became a manager. Didn't know what I was doing, I had no training, I'm going to be found out.
67Dino said:
I’ve always believed that only idiots are sure, whereas good intelligent people always have a lot of doubts. It’s those doubts that cause you to think that bit more, work a bit harder, check again, and ultimately do a much better job.
If it’s debilitating, then well worth some CBT. Otherwise, I’d expect that over time experience will build your confidence, and one day you’ll suddenly find you’re no longer acting the part, but just doing it naturally.
Thats a good way of putting it actually. I am very anal with my work which my supervisor says he likes as its rare that I miss something (and if I do its something minor which can be sorted easily). If it’s debilitating, then well worth some CBT. Otherwise, I’d expect that over time experience will build your confidence, and one day you’ll suddenly find you’re no longer acting the part, but just doing it naturally.
. It’s reassuring that it’s fairly common to feel like this! Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff