cpjobs.com has partnered with code-R to bring you examples of challenges faced at work and practical advice to empower yourself and others.

Doubting Thomas: I live in constant fear that I’ll be exposed as a fraud. I’m seen as an expert in my industry due to my experience, qualifications and track record. But in reality, my ‘success’ is just down to luck, time, and sheer force of effort. Even then, I rarely feel a sense of accomplishment as I could always have done something better.

I work longer hours than all of my coworkers. I try and stay at work until I can get my work done to a standard I’m not too ashamed about, which regularly means unpaid overtime. I’m sure my company would pay me more if I asked, but I don’t want to make it known that I need to work more hours to perfect my work.

The fact that it even takes me so long to produce acceptable work is a secret source of shame. When I was a student, it seemed like I had a natural flair and I breezed through school with top grades without much effort. But now that I’m a working professional, it’s almost impossible to get things perfectly right the first time.

Fortunately, no-one I work with seems to notice my failings or insecurities, or I’d definitely be out of a job. The problem now is that I’ve been asked to be the keynote speaker at a major industry conference by the organisers, and the HR manager let me know privately that my external recognition has helped me get tapped for the C-suite track.

I should be happy, but all I can hear is a voice in my head telling me that I’m an imposter and soon everyone will know.

Code-R: Where do I even begin…Can I even help you? You really are as terrible as you say you are…Terrible to yourself! What you’re feeling is not uncommon amongst successful, talented professionals. But you’ll need to snap out of your own funk and learn to love yourself to help yourself.

I notice a huge disconnect between how you perceive yourself, and how others around you treat you. You diminish your own abilities, but the fact that you’ve been invited to headline a major industry conference proves the value placed on your expertise. And the fact that your company is actively considering you for a C-title track without you even initiating a discussion on your advancement is testimony to the merits of your work.

It’s quite obvious that you’re a perfectionist who believes in natural ability and is willing to take on a superhuman workload in an attempt to always produce the best work. This is strong work ethic – but they are harmful limiting beliefs, and you’re going to burn yourself out if you don’t start acknowledging your own talents and fight off your inner saboteur.

High standards are good, but perfectionism is counterproductive as you’ll literally never be satisfied. Learn to appreciate your own successes. Evaluate your own work objectively to find the quality elements, instead of subjectively fixating on your personal dissatisfaction.

Appreciate that your work shouldn’t be naturally easy all the time if you’re in the right role that will challenge you to grow. And don’t judge yourself for taking a healthier work-life balance. Quantity of work hours is much less important than the quality of your time spent, and you need to focus on your non-work life to give yourself the emotional and mental recharge to keep doing well at work.

Most of all, celebrate your own efforts, victories, and accomplishments. Your company and industry certainly do.

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Tag: self-appreciation

3 keys to success in your career: self-acknowledgement, self-appreciation and stop self-judging