Imposter syndrome is common on social media. It can happen to anyone at any stage in their life. And it can be debilitating. Is there a way to manage imposter syndrome and cure it for good? That’s what we wanted to find out in this week’s #TwitterSmarter chat. We invited social media expert, Doug Cohen, to talk it through. Here’s a summary of our chat.
Guest: Doug Cohen
Topic: Dealing with imposter syndrome
Format: Eight questions directed at the guest. Everyone’s welcome to share.
You know the feeling—when you see someone who knows more than you, is smarter and is more successful, a little self-doubt creeps in. You feel like you’re not good enough. Gradually, you start to feel like an imposter. That’s imposter syndrome.
A1 #TwitterSmarter You may find someone who seems to know way more than you, & a bit of self doubt creeps in. A little voice in your head says “Who am I kidding? I’m nowhere close to this person” You may feel like a fraud, a fake expert – an imposter. That’s imposter syndrome.😬 https://t.co/Mv0l1jwrB0
— Doug Cohen (@dougcohen10) June 2, 2022
Funnily enough, as our guest pointed out, imposter syndrome doesn’t affect actual imposters. It’s those who’re genuine and trying to lead a decent life that gets most affected by imposter syndrome.
A2 #TwitterSmarter to borrow from @DanaLemaster last week Imposter Syndrome DOESN'T affect imposters! They don't care. Humble but driven people making an honest go who aim to make a difference & put themselves out there on a public platform like Twitter can be the ones affected. https://t.co/shOfbQ3v1k
— Doug Cohen (@dougcohen10) June 2, 2022
As Berrak emphasized, imposter syndrome can happen to anyone—even the most experienced people on Twitter may have a tinge of self-doubt. Some people are just better at handling it.
A2: Everyone, regardless of experience. Some are just better at hiding it than others. #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/RmQ0C2owRc
— Berrak "Sparkling Consequences" Sarıkaya (@BerrakBiz) June 2, 2022
We all have some form of anxiety in us. Imposter syndrome feeds off that anxiety and it can affect people in different ways. For example, people who’re high-achievers and who have big expectations for themselves may find it hard to deal with a small misstep—even a perceived one, as our guest explained.
A3 (cont.) whatever your goal, a misstep (or a perceived one) could feel disastrous. – these things can prey on your Imposter Syndrome if you're not careful.😳 #TwitterSmarter
— Doug Cohen (@dougcohen10) June 2, 2022
Laura made an excellent point as well. So many of us fall into that trap of comparing ourselves with others. That only exacerbates the situation. We also have to remember that people often show only the good side on social media and not the less-glamorous side of life. We seldom see the full picture.
A3: In today's world of high volume Social Media, it is far too easy to get caught up in self comparisons to others.
We tend to forget that most people post positive highlights of what is happening in their life rather than the full picture.#TwitterSmarter https://t.co/gdKn5pApiS
— Laura Denny (@ldcreativemedia) June 2, 2022
Imposter syndrome generally makes people second-guess themselves and their content on Twitter. That said, not everyone experiences imposter syndrome the same way. If you’re aware of what it can do to you and you’re on the defense right away, like our guest, you won’t let it impact your activities.
A4 #TwitterSmarter For me it doesn't really lol… I tend to let 'er rip & I'm not afraid to mix it up with haters a little…😎😛 But Imposter Syndrome can certainly make you TENTATIVE here. It might hold you back from sharing what you know for fear someone will tear it down. https://t.co/c5Ene6hPvs
— Doug Cohen (@dougcohen10) June 2, 2022
The problem with second-guessing yourself, as Madalyn pointed out is that you’ll tend not to engage as much as you used to on Twitter. This, in turn, may affect your reach on the platform. One of the best ways to deal with it is not to overthink it—just do it.
A4: When dealing with imposter syndrome, it can block you from showing up on Twitter. It may make you hesitant to share content and engage with others on the platform. I try to not overthink it and #JustDoIt. #TwitterSmarter https://t.co/bmKIKPSjpj
— Madalyn Sklar Digital Marketing since 1996 (@MadalynSklar) June 2, 2022
It’s not always clear how imposter syndrome varies in each platform. However, as our guest mentioned, Twitter can be particularly challenging. People tend to scrutinize your content more closely on Twitter, mainly because we’re used to a lot of bots and spammers, and trolls on Twitter.
A5 #TwitterSmarter I think it can. Twitter in particular can be rough. Certainly all social media can be but bots, trolls, fake accounts, people paying attention to whether tweets are "ratioed', these things aren't AS common to some other platforms in my experience. https://t.co/bPILPLhVtL
— Doug Cohen (@dougcohen10) June 2, 2022
As our friends from Biteable noted, it can also depend on what type of content you’re most comfortable sharing and which platform has the most of your audience. For instance, text-based platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn can be challenging because people use those platforms for communication, news, and debates. Therefore your content will also get more critique than usual. In contrast, Instagram and Facebook are more image-focussed and they might be more comfortable.
A5. I think it can definitely manifest differently on text-based platforms (Twitter, LinkedIn) than on photo or video platforms (IG and TikTok).
Some people are more comfortable sharing their written thoughts, as opposed to showing up on camera, and vice versa #TwitterSmarter
— Biteable (@biteable) June 2, 2022
It can help deal with it. For instance, reassuring yourself with positive thoughts and words can help boost your self-confidence, like Christine suggested.
A6.
On some level, confidence is a muscle we have to exercise.
I wouldn’t necessarily call it “pretending”; more like “PRACTICING confidence,” or “behaving AS THOUGH confident.”
It’s not lying; it’s getting over our own hesitations.
❤️#TwitterSmarter https://t.co/ZyFnJWrQhq pic.twitter.com/No4olkf9pZ— Christine Gritmon ❤️ #ChatAboutBrand (@cgritmon) June 2, 2022
That said, though, there’s also a clear line. You can’t say that you’re capable of something you aren’t. Confidence is ok—blatant lying isn’t.
A6 #TwitterSmarter To a degree. Projecting some confidence when you aren’t completely confident isn’t a crime & it can certainly help.
But there’s a line you just CAN'T cross in that approach. You can’t flat out lie. You can’t say yes you have a skill set that you don’t. https://t.co/7W6QFEqGKp
— Doug Cohen (@dougcohen10) June 2, 2022
Twitter is a good place to build relationships with people. Use Twitter’s extensive community-oriented features like Lists, Spaces, and chats to contribute to conversations and become a valuable part of communities. Show up consistently and build up your network. When you surround yourself with people who appreciate you for who you are, you’re less likely to doubt yourself. A supportive community will have your back—they don’t judge you, and you can be more transparent about what you don’t know.
A7 (cont.) Do the things we talk about here on #TwitterSmarter – find like minded people by connecting on shared interests with hashtags, lists, attending chats – CONTRIBUTE to the community. You'll earn trust & you'll feel GOOD about your place here and your value!
— Doug Cohen (@dougcohen10) June 2, 2022
There is no magic cure for imposter syndrome. A little bit of nervous doubt can be a good thing—it means you care about what you’re sharing and that you’re keen to add value to the community. It only becomes a problem if it starts to take over your life and limits your ability to be social.
A8 (cont.) #TwitterSmarter And remember – no one knows everything. It's not possible. If people are coming to you for help, if they are picking up what you're putting down and you are HELPING them, then you are NOT an imposter!
— Doug Cohen (@dougcohen10) June 2, 2022
Just remember that we’re all still learning. If people come to you for help, it’s because they think you can help them. If you can, do. And if you’re not sure, be upfront about it. No one’s perfect at everything they do.
Well folks, that’s all from me this week. Thanks a lot for reading through and for more great insights from our chat with Doug, have a look at this Twitter Moment that Joana put together for us. If you think this summary is pretty good, you’ll love the real-time chat. Join us next Thursday at 1pm ET for #TwitterSmarter. We also hang out on Twitter Spaces at 5pm ET to continue our chat. Catch you there!
About me, Narmadhaa:
I write all the things—marketing stuff to pay the bills; haiku and short stories so I feel wholesome. A social media enthusiast, I hang out with the #TwitterSmarter chat crew, and am always happy to take on writing gigs.
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