TransLink has a Psychological Health and Wellness Speaker Series. LET’S was asked to present their Imposter Syndrome workshop. Staff have been talking about Imposter Syndrome and TransLink was interested in learning more and discovering ways to recognize and support staff who may be experiencing it.
About the Imposter Syndrome Workshop
Imposter Syndrome is feeling inadequate, feeling like you aren’t qualified to do the work you are doing, or feeling like you might be discovered as a fraud. A person with Imposter Syndrome experiences self-doubt and often attributes their success to luck or people overestimating their abilities. People with Imposter Syndrome also tend to downplay, discount, or minimize their abilities and achievements.
Imposter Syndrome is widespread. It is something that many of us feel whether we are a student, new to our field, or a highly accomplished person. There are ways to reduce the feelings of Imposter Syndrome and address the voices in our heads that tell us to doubt ourselves and our work.
Imposter Syndrome comes from internalized messages that we don’t always realize we are taking in. Imposter Syndrome can also stem from being a person with multiple intersecting identities, particularly identities from marginalized communities. Imposter Syndrome shows itself in a variety of ways, depending on a person’s personality, background and circumstances.
Learn about how it shows itself, and how we can utilize tools to fight that self-doubt spiral and recognize our strengths.
Our host, LET’S, provides a welcoming environment where we can learn from 1 another’s experiences and discuss how imposter syndrome collectively affects us.
LET’S’ Imposter Syndrome workshop is created, researched, and facilitated by people who have experienced imposter syndrome.
LET’S 20-Year History with TransLink
It is LET’S’ 20th anniversary this year. Hard to believe! Our organization was founded because of inaccessibility and gatekeeping (the act of limiting access) on transit. When LET’S Founder-Executive Director, Heather McCain, was unable to find an organization to support them and letters to TransLink went unanswered. A member of the chronic pain group Heather facilitated jokingly said they should start their own organization. They looked into it and appointed members from the chronic pain group as board members. Heather then sent the same letter to TransLink but with “Executive Director” under their name and received a response a week later.
It’s amazing to think that from that moment of inaccessibility, 20 years of advocacy, education, relationship building, empowerment, connections, and communication have been built. What a ride! And how lovely to still be working with TransLink after all this time.