| Hi everyone,
Day 14 of the ’30 Ways To Play With Your Imposter Syndrome’ Challenge. Another plane story. This one is funny rather than scary though. Today’s theme: Today’s story: Key quotes: “The unnamed passenger apparently kicked up a stink because his window seat wasn’t aligned with a window — which sometimes happens on commercial planes — and demanded to be moved to another row. Unable to meet the man’s demands, and presumably exasperated by them, the flight attendant pulled out a piece of paper, drew a crude drawing of some clouds and the ocean, and taped it to the wall of the cabin next to the man’s seat, where a window would be.” A picture is in the screenshot at the bottom. If you’re going to be an imposter… why not be over-the-top? That’s the lesson I choose to get from today’s story. I don’t know much about the man’s circumstances, or how he reacted after the fake window was put up. But I think the fake window is hilarious. What I love is the complete transparency behind it. It’s not meant to fool anyone at all. And what that fake window lacks in reality… … it more than makes up for it in character. Don’t forget that people often hire for character almost as much as competence. It’s common for people prefer to hire someone who might be not as good… … but who they like much more. When judging your own skills and worth, remember to take your personality into account too. I keep forgetting about this myself. It literally took me years to realise, remember, and accept that people like me. (I still struggle with it even now!) Yes, I’m pretty good at my music job/s. Nowhere near the best. But pretty good. It took years of hearing the same thing over and over from people before the message finally sunk in. That I can be a pretty likeable person… … and that adds value to the jobs I do. That value can often make up for any value lost when I make mistakes too. Which makes me grateful at times. (Though that terrifies me somewhat. The fear I might rely on personality instead of actual skills.) I now realise that helps with my own imposter syndrome. When I didn’t feel qualified enough for a job… … (even if I was)… … I realise now I wasn’t including ALL my credentials. I forgot about my personality. And how it adds value. And even today I’m still figuring out what that really means. Maybe it’s the same for you too. Have you ever, like me, got stuck with tunnel vision? Where you focus so much on the skills side that you forget the importance of personality? Of the interpersonal relationships in your job/s? Bonus exercise: If you’re looking for something bold to try… If you’re afraid to oversell your skills…. … or if you’re afraid that somehow people will be disappointed when they find out you’re not as good as they think… Try this instead: Be so bold, over-the-top, humorous, or ridiculous with your claims that you make another person laugh. Be a fraud, but take it to the extremes. To the point of humour. Made-up example: My music is so good, the Pope himself rocks out to it. People won’t believe you. That’s the point. That’s the joke. But they might both like and trust you more. That’s the power of humour. Just like the (figurative) transparency of the fake window, it’s not meant to fool anyone. But chances are people will enjoy it. And oddly enough, sometimes be MORE forgiving of a few flaws. I’ve done this with some musical performances of mine. I find it works a treat, to laughter and applause. And I hope you might get something out of it too. Best wishes, Screenshot proof below: (You’ll see it only if you have images enabled.)
Taken 2018-11-13 at 2.15.42 pm |
