Imposter Syndrome: Overcoming the Feeling of Not Belonging

Our achievements can sometimes feel like they’re moving faster than we are, that we are not yet the person we’ve created through hard work. This is a common psychological response when we step into a new role known as imposter syndrome. This feeling can overpower us in some cases, making us worry that we are not good enough or capable of handling the role. It is important to recognize that giving in to this feeling is not allowing you to move forward.

However, “not giving in” is a lot easier said than done, especially when we are competing against ourselves. Yet, having this feeling is a good reflection of your character, it shows you have humility. In a leadership role, humility is a defining characteristic of great leaders. This is in contrast to leaders who lack humility and almost have a sense of entitlement to possess power. 

The first thing to do when you begin doubting yourself is to think back to everything you’ve been through to get to this point. If you’ve just been promoted, think of all the late nights, early mornings, and sacrifices it took to get there. Think of the times your staying power was tested but you knew what you were doing was worth it.

You want this added layer of confidence to do your job effectively, but overcoming your inner voice can be very challenging. When this is the case, it’s important to know how to gain your confidence back. Not only is this important for yourself, but it is pivotal to effectively complete tasks and reach objectives. If you are in a leadership role, imposter syndrome can loom over your ability to lead others. The risks for not taming imposter syndrome stack up.

With that said, let's look at what you can do to solve it:

Seek Out Advancement

People can be doing a great job in the position they’re currently in, an opportunity for advancement in the company can come up but they won’t go after it. Why won’t they go after it? It’s simple, they don’t think they can handle it. However, it’s important to know that this will lead to someone else in the role to which you may or may not agree with their leadership.

Know your worth and you set your standards. Why settle for less when you know you can do more? If the ideas you bring to the table can benefit the organization, then holding them back is a disservice.

Ask Questions

A lot of times stepping into a role you’re nervous about will make you feel like you should know everything. This is never the case, don’t feel that you should go into it knowing everything, be curious and observe. No matter what position you’re in you should always ask questions up and down the hierarchy. Now with this, you’ll need to ensure that the questions you ask are meaningful.

Again, humility is important but too much humility can make you seem incompetent. Questions regarding areas you need to be caught up to speed on should, by all means, be asked. On the other hand, if there is something you can answer yourself by simply doing research or observing, then do that.

Find Supportive People

Working with others means being part of a team. Members must support each other, which means there is a level of trust established within the team. Cohesion within the organization will allow production processes to operate much more smoothly. Communication can flow much more effectively and issues can be handled without confusion. In addition, a trusted support group will build your comfort being in this new position. Once you identify the people you can depend on, you can build a network. 

Conclusion

Feeling out of place in a new position is normal, it reflects well on your care and consideration for the task at hand. While this humility is a good trait for a leader, it does have the power to hinder your ability to oversee your duties effectively. Recognize times when you need to ask for help and use your emotional intelligence to assess each new challenge.

You will inevitably find ways to build this comfort in your new role. While they may not always make you want to jump at the challenge, they will have their pay off. Don't be afraid to take risks, discomfort is what will mold you into a competent leader.

We work with successful companies to increase their net profits using exceptional custom software solutions, contact us here to see how we can help your business grow!

 

 

 

Joining Forces: Company Collaboration Benefits

While businesses are working towards goals, competition will inevitably arise and pose some concerns within the organization. This is especially true if sales are tight between two organizations or one is outperforming the other. When this happens, brands tend to label each other as “competitors” and work hard to gain the upper hand. While this in some cases gives brands character and contributes to their public image (Pepsi Vs. Coke) other companies can be hesitant to work together even when provided the opportunity.

Yet, not every company should be quick to close themselves off to collaborations. Opportunities for collaborations should always be considered by brands, as a partnership can lead to a bigger audience. This is especially relevant in start-up companies as they are growing. Partnerships with other companies can be beneficial to their publicity. The joining of organizations can offer fresh perspectives and input from both parties aimed at benefiting both businesses.

In addition, there’s access to greater capital for both parties when their networks combine.

Now is brand partnership and collaboration necessary? No, not every company will benefit or feel comfortable merging. This is especially true if an organization has built itself to a point of high performance on its own. However, other organizations can benefit from their creative process and audience reach. A good example of a situation where mutual benefits can be achieved would be two brands targeting the same audience but providing different services.

Take GoPro and Red Bull, their products appeal to extreme sports athletes yet serve different purposes with their products. A collaboration between them opens up access to wider audience exposure, skills/experience, and advertising advantages. This is one situation where collaborations can work in many different ways. Now how can your organization apply this methodology in a way that will be beneficial?

Here’s what you can do:

Build A National Network

Expanding your reach is the ultimate goal with collaboration, what better way to do that than connecting with organizations established out of your territory. For example, if you are a Canadian company based in Ontario and the majority of your product sales are from your province, with a close second being British Columbia. Partnering with a company based in British Columbia expands your reach to their market. From there you can continue to branch out as sales and demand increase. 

Promote Your Partnership

With a partnership between brands, the influx of clientele should be maximized by promoting what you’re offering. This is when utilizing your network and social media is essential. Creative teams should develop drafts as a top priority when collaboration is official. Social media is especially important here, sharing your content is efficient and receiving feedback is much more direct than anywhere else. In addition, calls to action can be easily accessed by your audience (Instagram has a great CTA feature) so be strategic with the ad approach you take. 

Collaborate On Products Or Services

Does your business lack the ability to earn high-profile clients or lockdown contracts because the client chooses to go with a bigger or more well-known company?. At the moment of rejection, it is easy to label that company as competition. However, an optimistic leader may see an opportunity for growth. Especially as a small business, having the opportunity to partner with a larger organization can offer a bigger base for clientele.

In addition, you both may bring something to the table that the other doesn’t. Joining forces in some way can prevent missing out on sales growth and help both organizations grow.

Conclusion

Running a business is never a solo effort, it requires support from the bottom up with an endless need for collaboration within the team. This collaboration, however, can reflect beyond the team to the organization as a whole. Opportunities for partnerships can provide an abundance of learning opportunities and take an organization beyond anything it could reach on its own. Essentially it comes down to what will best benefit both parties and appeal most to the target audience. 

We work with successful companies to increase their net profits using exceptional custom software solutions, contact us here to see how we can help your business grow!

 

 

 

Podcast Development Strategies

Technology puts us in a position where we can always be on the receiving end of information. They are convenient and a great way for us to keep our minds busy daily, which has led their popularity to soar. Podcasts are a product of social media's increasing popularity, their topic diversity and ever-changing guests make them one of the most popular choices for listeners. In the United States alone, there are estimated to be nearly 80 million listeners and an estimated 2 million different podcasts.

This glimpse into the market is inevitably going to grow as its popularity is increasing. On top of this, they are an incredible experience to take part in, allowing viewers to get to know you better and participants to connect with the audience. The popularity and unique structure of podcasts has inspired companies to take on creating their own. Rightfully so, as this tool drives engagement and traffic numbers through the roof.

On top of this, it expands the company's audience to people who may never have paid attention to their brand otherwise. For example, let's say a skincare company begins a podcast on how to take care of yourself. Now the audience opens from people who buy their skincare products to people looking to have a healthy lifestyle. Interaction opens up with comments, questions, and feedback.

Ultimately, this creates an opportunity for companies to engage directly with their audience and develop a connection. 

However intimidating it may be to start a podcast with no previous experience, the rewards from doing so are immeasurable. As well, starting a podcast doesn’t have to be so intimidating with the right planning. With that being said, here are some tips to get you started:

Use Your Network

When you’re starting a podcast, shout it from the mountain top, use Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram, TikTok, whatever your organization is on and promote it. Don’t underestimate the power of your network, people follow you for a reason. On top of this, your pre-established audience is much more likely to give you feedback in the early days of your startup. In addition, you will be able to see the kinds of topics the audience is looking for in episodes.

Combining this with the sharing of content will allow you to gain traction and get your podcast off to a great start. 

Go On Other Podcasts 

Seek opportunities to go on someone else’s podcast, their audience development may be more advanced than yours and could lead to listeners. As well, getting used to being in a podcast setting is a great experience in the development of your podcast. With connections to other hosts, your networks can equally grow and you can receive advice from someone already in the process. 

Stay Consistent

This is relevant in creating content of any kind but it nonetheless is a part of the foundation of starting a successful podcast. The audience can begin to rely on weekly episodes and updates building the connection they have with your show. Staying consistent (no matter the number of views) nonetheless demonstrates that you are working towards improving your content. 

Plan In Advance

Keeping your content calendar up to date will require you to think about your topic, arrange guests, allocate time, the list goes on. To be prepared, always be ahead in your planning so you’re not running into last-minute ideas being thrown together. Initially, there will be some learning curves. However, once you are used to the development process, it will become a regular process in which you can always add improvements and changes.

Conclusion

Podcasts are unmatched when it comes to consumer relations, their appeal to the audience is established through their digestible delivery of information. The best ones take viewers through a conversation constructed of arguments that even lead to stories. This is what draws in viewers, and is why brands not partaking should consider what they can offer if they did.

We work with successful companies to increase their net profits using exceptional custom software solutions, contact us here to see how we can help your business grow!