AUTHOR: Lolly
get over your imposter syndrome
How to ignore those voices and get up on that stage to present.
I’ll let you in on a secret. I’m not a real writer.
Not by some people’s standards.
I don’t have a degree. Heck, I hardly have GCSEs.
I can’t explain to you when a semicolon should be used, and I think the subjunctive is a BDSM thing.
how to get over imposter syndrome
get out of your own way and get up on that stage
For some reason, for the last decade—and then some—the world’s biggest brands have paid me to write their stories. Because I am a fucking writer—education or no education. I understand people. I play with language like I’m in a sandbox. I know how to find people’s buttons and push them so subtly that they think all these great ideas are theirs.
embrace imposter syndrome and keep moving towards your goals
But fuck yeah, I get imposter syndrome.
And fuck no, it will never stop me.
You are not a fraud. Everyone has a story. And your story is yours to own. And—if you choose—yours to share.
stop comparing yourself and trust your perspective
Doubting your place on any stage puts you among some of the most brilliant people in the world. Not terrible company to find yourself in. You’re unlikely to ever be the most knowledgeable person, so let go of the need to be the expert. You are an expert. And, as long as you’re working every day to build your understanding, you have every right to share your views—your unique views that the world needs to hear. Don’t let comparison take that from you. Instead, see yourself as part of the club of smart people who can see their own opportunities for improvement.
preparation is key to getting over imposter syndrome
That’s all well and good, but accepting your imposter syndrome is not the same as telling it to fuck off. Preparation is. Preparation is confidence. If you know you’ve left no stone unturned in your preparation, what could you have to feel insecure or unsure about?
This doesn’t mean practicing a script over and over. It means knowing your subject matter inside out—so that you don’t need a script. Knowing your story so well, you just need a roadmap—key plot points to keep you on track and speaking with your audience as the hero, not from ego.
use body language to boost your confidence on stage
When you step out onto that stage, don’t underestimate the symbolic importance of body language. Take a beat to control your breathing, to whisper back to the screaming internal voices that you do, in fact, got this. Stand tall, make eye contact, and speak with authentic conviction and passion. And, if your voice wobbles, acknowledge your humanity—audiences lap that shit up.
And if none of that works, this might.
Your presentation story isn’t about you.
It’s about your audience.
How can you be an imposter in their story? The pressure is on them, really.
focus on your audience, not yourself
get an extra confidence boost from the presentation writing experts
video
Reading is tough. Rest your weary eyes on this moving picture instead.