You know your small business inside out, whether making cupcakes or trimming hair. The job of a small business owner requires many other skills. You may wonder if opening your own company is too much for you. You may be afraid that people will think you are an imposter or you don’t have the knowledge you need to run a successful business.
You’re not the only one. Eighty-four percent of entrepreneurs and small-business owners have experienced imposter syndrome during their careers. Being self-aware or achieving high goals can cause you to doubt yourself. You’re in good company. For example, Albert Einstein and Serena Williams are just a few of the many people who have experienced self-doubt.
Another good thing is that IP isn’t so much a condition as a way of thinking. You can beat it.
Imposter syndrome: the truth about it
Understanding IP is the key to defeating it. Since it’s essential to name a problem or tendency for it to be addressed and banished, let’s look at five types of intellectual property described by Valerie Young.
The Perfectionist
The perfectionist will set impossible standards for themselves and then berate themselves for even the slightest mistake. There are two problems. They set themselves up to fail by having unrealistic expectations. They then focus on their mistakes, even if they are minor, rather than acknowledge their efforts and achievements. They also procrastinate out of fear of failure.
Overcoming Perfectionist IP
As a small business owner, you can combat perfectionist IP by:
- You are stopping your inner critic. Take a moment and acknowledge the good things you have done. Remember that it does not need to be perfect for everything.
- Share your success with others. Many perfectionists fear that they will appear boastful, arrogant, or bragging if their accomplishments are articulated. The truth is that most people love hearing success stories. Not only does sharing your success with others help get the word out about your business, but it also helps rewire your brain to see yourself as vital and successful-imperfections. Social media can be an excellent way to share your success with colleagues and clients.
The Natural Genius
Natural geniuses are perfectionists who set themselves high standards but expect to succeed on their first attempt. Natural geniuses see the struggle as a sign of weakness or failure. When they were younger, ” gifted ” kids often became adults who suffered from the natural genius imposter’s syndrome.
Overcoming Natural Genius IP
This form of intellectual property can be particularly challenging for small business owners facing various unfamiliar requirements. These steps will help you curb the IP geniuses’ natural tendencies:
- Remember how far you have come. Step back when you hear yourself criticizing. Take note of your accomplishments. You have already achieved great things. You may even be surprised by how far you’ve progressed.
- Find a mentor with similar struggles and experiences. Having a Mentor may not appeal to those who are naturally gifted. They believe that they can do everything on their own. You can benefit from the experience of someone who has been on a similar path. You might even laugh and commiserate, an excellent medicine for tough times.
The Superhuman
When comparing themselves with their peers, superhumans believe they are phonies. To “measure up,” they often work themselves to exhaustion. They’re usually more interested in validation from others than measurable job success.
Small business owners are susceptible to IP burnout due to their need to meet many demands.
Overcoming Superhuman Intellectual Property
How to be your superhero, fight Superhuman IP and prevent burnout.
- Automate! Stop doing everything yourself. Instead, consider automation. Clover can, for example, help you with time-consuming, frustrating tasks that are outside your business. Automated tasks include updating your inventory or calculating sales tax. Automate and do less.
- Plan time to be joyful. Find activities that make you happy. Your business is not a sprint but a marathon. You’ll have to refill your tank to last the distance periodically. This means scheduling time for you and the activities that make you happy. You can message yourself that you are just as important as your business or job by scheduling time for yourself. Filling up your joy bucket will help you become a more effective business leader.
The Soloist
Soloists are true to their name and believe they should be able to do everything themselves. Soloists, like several others on this list, compare themselves with others. They fear asking for help will make them appear weak or expose their phoniness.
Soloists are superhumans in their fear of asking for assistance and exposing perceived weaknesses.
Overcoming Soloist IP
Soloists, like the superhuman types, can benefit from automating everything they can. Here are some additional ways to defeat Soloist IP.
- Delegate! Delegation is not only beneficial to you if you have employees. It’s also good for your business and employees. Delegating tasks can be a great tool to help integrate your employees into the community, increase employee trust, and improve employee skills.
- Create a network of people who can support you. It’s not only essential to network for a job. You also need to know that you are not alone. It’s helpful to hear from people in similar situations. It’s also important to recognize that even the most successful people had help on their journey. Social media can help you make exciting connections. You can also reach out to local small business owners. You can also read about inspiring business owners by reading our Meet the Merchant series.
Expertise
Experts are more likely to concentrate on something they excel at or know well. They are ashamed when they do not always have the information they need. They also tend to compare their accomplishments and themselves to those of others. They often cringe when they are introduced as “experts” because they don’t want to have to prove their worth.
Experts are often busy with classes, certifications, and training to fill in perceived gaps in knowledge or qualification. Constant movement, while helpful in specific ways, can lead to burnout and procrastination of business tasks. This could have a negative impact on the health and growth of their business.
Expert IP
To overcome Expert IP, you must face the fear of needing to be adequate head-on. Here are two key ways to overcome that fear:
- Be a mentor. Volunteering or taking the time to mentor younger colleagues can boost your self-esteem. It’s sometimes hard to realize how much you know until you are in a position where you can share your knowledge with others. You’ll also be able to help others.
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