Have you ever second-guessed writing a post on LinkedIn and decided to delete it instead?
Chances are, you’re suffering from imposter syndrome. And spoiler alert…it happens to nearly everyone.
And don’t be fooled by people who never talk about it. From just beginning your personal brand journey on LinkedIn to seasoned creators, everybody has had this feeling of doubting their skills even though they have evidence of success.
I know I have experienced imposter syndrome multiple times on my entrepreneurship journey.
For those reading, I have no doubt you have valuable lessons to share. And having a personal branding strategy is important whether you’re trying to grow your business or simply open up doors to new opportunities.
Here’s my view on imposter syndrome, what I’ve found helpful, and tips to finally kick that imposter syndrome feel to the curb (or at least the backseat).
Table of Contents:
Get Comfortable with Feeling Uncomfortable
Let’s be honest. Sharing birthday celebrations and family events on Facebook can be one thing, but sharing a peek about yourself and your expertise on LinkedIn is another.
Past colleagues, future bosses, and anyone in your network could read what you post.
What will they think?
What if they disagree?
This is your professional reputation we’re talking about.
All of these fears are uncomfortable to confront. That’s why I’ve tried to get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable. I’ve found it to be the first step in confronting imposter syndrome.
It’s ok to feel unsure. But what you don’t want to do is stay stuck in that place.
Don’t allow self doubt to hold you back from opportunities you can’t yet see.
At the start of 2024, I had no idea I would get to teach university-level courses around digital marketing and content creation and be the main speaker in a room of 60+ small business owners.
But it happened. Once you commit to sharing more about your story and learnings, you become more comfortable.
And a cool after-effect happens: You begin to build relationships and find confidence.
Comment to Build Courage
Not ready to post yet? I get it. Thinking about what to say, writing your post, and pushing that “publish” button can be a lot of mental pressure.
That’s when imposter syndrome likes to rear its head and tell you, “No, you don’t know enough to write about that.”
So, help yourself and warm up to posting. Focus instead on leaving a comment on someone’s post first. It can even boost your social engagement.
This is a great starter to being “social” without the pressure of being in the spotlight with your own post.
Reading others’ posts and leaving thoughtful or insightful comments is a great first step to building courage. And guess what? In the process, you begin building your personal brand while showing imposter syndrome who’s boss.
When you put your words out into the LinkedIn universe in comment form, it’s like raising your hand and saying, “Hi there! Your post resonates with me, and here’s my point of view with value I want to add.”
Insightful comments get noticed. Try starting there before posting.
Focus More on Connecting Over Creating
Creating content is half of building your brand. Of course you need a clear content strategy of what makes sense for you to talk about based on your goals as a professional or building your business.
But, content is only part of it.
The other big part of building your personal brand on LinkedIn is connecting. “Networking” used to be the term I was told when graduating with my MBA. “You’ve got to network,” my mentors would say. But I really feel “connecting” is the better term here.
And how do you do that? With intentional engagement.
Imposter syndrome makes you second-guess so much, but what you don’t want to second-guess is being honest to make connections.
You don’t have to do this solo.
LinkedIn is one of many social media platforms. And as with all social platforms, you’re encouraged to be social. So hang around and leave comments or talk in the DMs.
Your target audience is waiting to learn from you.
- Be a mentor with your words
- Stick out as someone they need on their team
- Or have an offer that’s a solution they’ve been needing
But always go back to that place of first wanting to connect. And how you do that is by making engagement a priority.
Share What You Know
A way to crush imposter syndrome is to start by discussing topics that come naturally to you.
Maybe it’s…
- Accounting best practices
- Graphic design principles
- Marketing techniques
Draw from your experiences and the things you’ve been doing in your daily life for years.
Share your own success—or even better, where you went wrong—so others can learn from you. Nothing helps others relate to you better than showing the ups and downs in your career.
You know why? Because we’ve all been there. And nothing makes you more human than showing that life has thrown you curve balls, but you’ve still found wants to keep going or pivot.
What you don’t want to do?…Talk about what you don’t know.
Sure, you can curate content from others; just always give them credit.
Embrace what you’ve learned, experienced, or are in the process of doing. Be open about it all. Those reading will appreciate seeing the bigger picture from you.
Keep Your Assumptions In Check
You know what assuming does…(It’s makes an a** out of you and me.)
So keep those assumptions in check.
With imposter syndrome, the assumption is that you’re going to be found out as a fraud. But here’s the reality…to be found out as a fraud, you have to be intentionally trying to deceive others.
And that’s not what you’re doing with your personal branding on LinkedIn.
You’re trying to share what you know and how you can help.
As long as you’re true to yourself and have integrity, you’re far from being considered an imposter. No one is going to say that.
So don’t allow those assumptions to take over with your mindset.
Constantly Look for the Silving Linings to Celebrate
Imposter syndrome starts to happen less and less as you experiment and find ways to spot and celebrate the small wins.
Those wins could come in the way of…
- Seeing several comments on one of your posts
- Making a new connection
- Having someone subscribe to your newsletter
As you start to experience these successes, you begin to grow confidence. And as you grow more confident, impostor syndrome has less of a grip on you.
After almost two years of growing my business, I have more evidence showing me what’s happening.
- My revenue is already exceeding what I made last year.
- I’ve been asked to speak and teach about LinkedIn personal brand-building.
There’s a slight upward curve happening, and my creator mindset tells me that growth can continue. Or rather, it will continue if I keep imposter syndrome in check.
Final Thoughts on Imposter Syndrome and LinkedIn
The imposter phenomenon is very real. And it’s something you may experience once or many times throughout your life.
On LinkedIn, the biggest professional networking site online, you have a big stage to showcase who you are, what you know, and how you want to be perceived. With that fact, regardless of how many followers you have, it’s normal for imposter syndrome to sneak up and cause some hesitation.
But remember, you have a story and lessons to share that can help someone else.
So, how do you overcome imposter syndrome and push through?
- Be comfortable with feeling uncomfortable (and take action anyway)
- Comment to build courage
- Focus more on connecting over creating
- Share what you know (you have a unique viewpoint)
- Keep your assumptions in check (you’re not a fraud!)
- Look for the silver linings to celebrate
Imposter Syndrome & Personal Branding FAQs
Is imposter syndrome real?
Absolutely! Imposter syndrome is a very real mindset hurdle experienced by both men and women. It’s when you doubt your skills and abilities despite the success you’ve already achieved. As a result, it can cause added anxiety as well as depression. It’s a phenomenon many experience in their lives, and it’s possible to overcome.
What are personal brands?
Personal brands are when individuals intentionally promote themselves by highlighting their education, experiences, and skills that could make them different from others. They do this by creating content in the way of social posts, videos, podcasts, and blog posts to highlight their expertise on a given subject matter. The endgame for creating a personal brand is that you can help control the narrative of what others think and feel about you. This can help grow your business as an entrepreneur or open up professional opportunities.
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