Have you ever felt like you’re in over your head, pretending to know more than you do? You’re not alone.
In his enlightening TEDx Sydney talk, Mike Cannon-Brookes, co-founder of Atlassian, delves into the pervasive yet seldom discussed world of imposter syndrome.
Discover how this successful entrepreneur turned his deepest insecurities into powerful lessons for personal and professional growth, and why this might be the secret ingredient to success we rarely talk about.
Imposter syndrome is a widespread experience
Cannon-Brookes shares that despite his achievements with Atlassian, he often feels like an impostor.
This feeling, known as imposter syndrome, is characterised by a persistent belief that one is not as competent as others perceive, accompanied by a fear of being exposed as a fraud.
He stresses that this syndrome is not uncommon, even among those who have achieved significant success.
His openness about his own feelings serves as a reminder that self-doubt is a normal human experience, regardless of one’s accomplishments.
Leveraging imposter syndrome as a source of motivation
Rather than perceiving imposter syndrome as solely detrimental, Cannon-Brookes suggests viewing it as a potential motivator.
He recounts experiences where feeling out of his depth spurred him to gain more knowledge and adapt, turning challenging situations into opportunities for personal and professional growth.
This approach transforms the anxiety and fear associated with feeling like an impostor into a productive force that drives learning and self-improvement.
Persistent self-doubt despite success
Cannon-Brookes challenges the common assumption that achieving success naturally eradicates self-doubt.
He shares his personal experience of ongoing feelings of being an impostor, even after the considerable success of his company.
This insight is particularly valuable as it highlights that success does not automatically resolve internal conflicts and insecurities.
It’s a powerful message that success and self-doubt can coexist, and feeling like an impostor doesn’t diminish one’s achievements.
Embracing and learning from the imposter experience
Cannon-Brookes advises embracing the feelings of imposter syndrome and using them as an opportunity for learning and development.
He illustrates this through personal anecdotes where he transformed feelings of inadequacy into drives for knowledge and skills improvement.
This approach suggests that instead of being paralysed by fear, acknowledging and confronting these feelings can lead to personal growth and enhanced problem-solving skills.
The importance of seeking help and continuously questioning
He emphasises the significance of questioning one’s knowledge and ideas and not hesitating to seek advice when feeling out of depth.
This practice, he observes, is common among successful people.
They use it to refine their ideas and expand their understanding rather than perceiving it as a sign of weakness.
This lesson underlines the importance of continuous learning and the value of seeking diverse perspectives to enhance one’s knowledge and skills.
