Blogs

Increased Feelings of Impostor Syndrom

By Jessica Speas posted 01-21-2022 18:06

  
Imposter image


Last month, I shared my eagerness to get back to business in a brand new year. Now 2022 is here, but, unfortunately, it's not feeling all that bright and new so far.

That thing I won't mention by name had a variant. Again we are dealing with increased absences due to isolation and quarantine orders, stress and uncertainty related to schools, sick children, and childcare issues. At one point, we had one-third of my team out; that sure was a crazy Monday! We are moving appointments, changing schedules, and returning to curbside while implementing more procedures to keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible. We are anticipating supply shortages and delivery lag-times. Meanwhile, we're up to our eyeballs in the ever-changing state, county, and federal regulations and guidelines.

It seems like too much! Sometimes, when I'm especially overwhelmed, I find myself wondering if I am making the right decisions or, worse, if I am even the right person to make them. What if I made the wrong decision, misinterpreted a regulation, or missed an essential detail? Impostor Syndrome creeps in, and I doubt everything I'm doing. Even people who have never had it before seem to be experiencing it recently. Forty-seven percent of workers surveyed by global project management company Asana in 2020 reported increased feelings of Impostor Syndrome. Blogs I've read and speakers I've heard at (once again virtual) conferences have discussed it more recently, too.

I am trying to cope with these feelings by reminding myself that it's not possible as much as I would like to plan for the future right now. New variants lead to new guidelines, and as the CDC learns more, of course, those guidelines change. We must respond to those changes,  staff shortages, and clients who need to reschedule appointments because that is all we can do.

Here's something I think is especially important: our skill sets as practice managers, our knowledge of our practices, our responsiveness and agility, and our compassion make us the best people to deal with uncertainty and change.

I'd also like to remind all of you (and myself!) - that while all of this is making our jobs harder and problems seem unsolvable - often we need to step away to gain perspective. So take a break and do something that makes you feel good to restore your energy.

During the keynote of a recent virtual conference I attended,  I was reminded of a great Jimmy Eat World song, "The Middle." If there were a song that is the antidote to imposter syndrome, this would be it! I recommend you play the song, sing it loudly, and dance around like no one's watching. It feels great!

Sincerely,
Jessica Speas, CVPM, SPHR, PHR-ca, SHRM-SCP, CCFP
VHMA President


#PracticePulse
2 comments
3666 views

Permalink

Comments

01-27-2022 15:02

What a great article!  This hit me at exactly the right time.  Thank you for sharing!

01-27-2022 10:26

What a wonderful article. You and the rest of the struggling managers ARE the right people, in the right place, in the right job, in the right time. All you can do is what you can do. You cannot create employees, you cannot create time and you cannot create nice clients. Just do the best you can do and know that it is enough. You are right, take a break. Step away for a bit, I promise it won't go away! But it will get better if you feel better. Lean on each other. Be each other's strength and comfort. Remember (even if it is hard) we have the best job in the world. The pets need us, the staff needs us, and the clients need us.