24 Feb Overcoming 1st Timer Syndrome: Own Your Place
Your first-timer opportunity should have been a celebratory moment but ended up becoming a source of constant stress? Do you experience constant nagging within that you aren’t ready or competent enough for the current leadership position or the one you are aiming at? Do you feel like you aren’t in charge? In Episode 8, I shared how first-timers could be able to own their place, feel, look, and act as if they are in charge.
Before we proceed, if you haven’t watched the previous episode where I emphasized the importance of knowing your place. In that episode, I suggested some questions you should ask and get answers to. If you may have any feedback or questions, let me know. If you have already watched Episode 7, it might have already increased your confidence but knowing is not enough to overcome the first-timer syndrome.
This is now time to own what you know and benefit from it. You scanned your environment and increased your knowledge about yourself, the organization, your team, and other key stakeholders. You have to use these data to own your place. Having the necessary knowledge by itself is not enough. You should take charge from the start by putting your best foot forward from the get-go. In Episode 8, I will show you how you may become or at least look confident, assertive, and in control of your environment.
People are watching you when you climb the leadership ladder. The more you climb and you are leaving people below, it is natural and easy for them to look up to you and see everything you say, how you behave and act from ‘below’. That is why you have to own your place so that you show to people that you care about the organization and the people you serve, and comfortable and in charge of your new place and role ‘up there’. I’m not talking about faking it. Of course, the worst comes; you fake it until you make it. I’m talking about demonstrating a sincere demeanor that shows that you own the place. Of course, I’m not suggesting you become arrogant, autocratic, and bully.
In my previous first-timer positions, I remember the struggles I had. Initially, I wasn’t even consciously aware of my inability to own the places. Looking back retrospectively, my words, behaviors, decisions, and actions were tentative and full of hesitations. Then, I upgraded myself into being conscious but didn’t know how to own my place. What is more? The moment I decided to own it, I didn’t know how to do it smartly. I appeared over the board. I lacked the competencies to show confidence outwardly in my behaviors and assertiveness in my words, decisions, and actions. Of course, in my latest first-timer positions, I understood its importance before I even take them plus I quickly owned the place. I also coached and trained first timers to own their place. That is why I’m going to share with you some of the insights that enabled me to own my first-timer positions, and those I coached and trained.
The first thing that allowed me and other first-timers I helped to step up to own their place was recognizing a condition called imposter syndrome. I realized that all achievers experience this syndrome. The difference is the degree at which they are affected by this syndrome. When someone is affected, they tend to attribute their success to being lucky or cheated their way to get where they are in the current leadership position they are in. They may also find some excuses for why they got the job questioning whether they actually earned it. Most importantly, they questioned themselves, consciously or unconsciously whether they deserved it. They suffer within feeling inadequate, unworthy, waiting to be exposed, and in turn humiliated once people know them well.
The best way to overcome imposter syndrome is to embrace ourselves the way we are including our weaknesses and limitations to own one’s place and be in charge. Below are some of the approaches that helped my clients and me to own or place:
- Acting confident
- Becoming assertive
- Setting boundaries
For more, check out Episode 8 to learn more about the significance of Owning Your Place by overcoming imposter syndrome. In this episode, you will learn the importance of acting confident, being assertive, and setting boundaries. Watch the episode and let me know if you may have any questions and comments. If you may have any topic you want me to cover or questions you would like me to answer in the upcoming couple of episodes, let me know.
If you’re also interested to go deeper with me, make sure to sign up for the 7-days challenge I’m planning to issue soon. Within those 7-days, I will send you video clips and other helpful resources to overcome the first-timer syndrome you may already experience now or in the future. In order to get these resources for free, sign up for the email list by going to www.assegid.com
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If you prefer to listen to the podcast version, here you go: