Beating imposter syndrome as a Consultant
Feeling like a fraud is common in consulting, especially when you’re starting out. In this blog we’ll share three ways to overcome imposter syndrome as a consultant. Implement these practical strategies to restore confidence and quiet self-doubt.
Prepare Extensively
Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.
This time-old saying is especially true in consulting. Preparing as much in advance as you can is critical to feeling like a confident consultant.
If you’re about to join a new client, here’s a checklist of things every consultant should prepare:
What does the client organisation do? What do they sell? Who are their customers?
If the company is publicly listed, find the annual report. This will give you insight into their strategy and also give you a view on the organisation’s financial health. A quick Google should bring up this document.
Who is your client? Make sure you know their name and have looked them up. Have a look at their LinkedIn profile, it’s not stalking. Start to understand their career history and what sort of things might be important to them.
Existing project documentation. If you’re joining an existing project then be sure to read as much project documentation as you can in advance. Here’s some documents you should ask the Engagement Lead for:
Statement of work. Understand the scope so you know what the client expects.
Previous SteerCo decks. Understand what the current project priorities are as well as any risks and issues being reported to the client.
Working versions of master documents. If your engagement is producing some kind of report for the client, get your hands on the working version of the document early so you can see what’s what.
Make some easy notes for yourself along the way so you don’t forget the key information. Keep it handy and easily accessible so that if the imposter syndrome gremlins short-circuit your memory, you can get quickly back in control.
Find a Trusted Ally
It’s helpful to have someone who can be a soundboard with you, for example a fellow consulting peer. Together you can reality-check unreasonable worries to weed out purely imposter worries versus things that you can take action to improve.
Practice Mindfulness
There are some surprising benefits consultants can gain from mindfulness practices.
These techniques help to bring you back to the present and restore objectivity that leads to the clear thinking consultants need.
One of the easiest techniques is ‘five things’. Have a look around you, what are five things you can see? Hear? Touch? Smell?
The time it takes to re-centre yourself is well worth the minute or two of meeting content that you’ll miss.
Use some mindfulness techniques to restore your perspective away from imposter syndrome worries and back into the task at hand.
Remember Your Abilities
You are great!
Take a moment to reflect on these three things:
Recall past successes and client wins
Reread positive feedback from managers
You earned your place - act accordingly
Don’t allow this to tip into arrogance but don’t lose sight of the great wins you’ve already banked.
Be Kind to Yourself
The irony of imposter syndrome is it makes you feel like you’ve failed for feeling like you failed.
Remember:
Self-doubt doesn't mean you're incompetent
Allow time to build confidence and expertise
Perfectionism often fuels imposter fears. Aim for ‘good enough’ not perfection
You've Got This!
Imposter syndrome can be useful because it stops you becoming complacent and that’s important as a consultant. However, keeping it at bay will give you an edge and ultimately make you a better, more fulfilled, consultant.
