It's time to have a conversation about women missing out on opportunities in their career. Argh! Time after time I see roles advertised in the liquor industry and there are not enough women applying for these roles whether it's an Ambassador role, a Distiller position or a management role. As women I believe at one stage or another we purposely derail our own careers without knowing it. And why, I believe it is because of imposter syndrome.
What is imposter syndrome?
noun: imposter syndrome
the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills. "people suffering from impostor syndrome may be at increased risk of anxiety"
Imposter syndrome haunts us in many forms:
Experiencing a lack of self confidence
A feeling of inadequacy
Constant comparison to other people
Feelings of anxiety
Doubting yourself
Lack of confidence in your own capabilities
Speaking negatively about yourself
Dwelling on the past
Irrational fears of the future
Shrugging off accolades
Not applying to job postings unless you meet every single requirement
I try to touch on this subject each time someone gives me a microphone. At one stage or another I feel that we all experience at least one of the points listed above.
How do we move forward as women from thinking this way when our next big career opportunity arises? My personal tips for helping to overcome self doubt when applying for our next dream job;
Think like a man and wing it. Men don't always tick the boxes when applying for roles that they really want, so why should we? Men just have a crack whether they tick all of the boxes for a role or not. They say fake it 'til you make it...have a crack!
Don't fear failure or rejection. The best lessons in life are learnt when we fail or don't get the job that we really wanted...just learn from your failures and get up and have another crack. It's called resilience, thicken that skin up and stop dwelling on why it didn't happen! It's OK to fail.
Talk dirty and get a bloody grip. 'I can't do it. I won't get it. I'm not smart enough'...blah blah blah blah... it's getting old so stop talking to yourself like you would your worst enemy. Ask yourself would you speak to your child like that or your best friend? Be self aware and be kind to yourself. It's much easier said than done. You could start by saying to yourself under your breath 'I know I can, I am smart, I've got this, I'm a hot sexy [insert something provocative here] '...the dirtier that you talk to yourself the more it will stick in your head ;)
You do truly deserve it. A new year is just around the corner. C'mon take a deep breath and pull your big girl undies up, wing it, start talking dirty to yourself like a long lost lover and start having a crack at awesome opportunities in your career! I dare you x