The Fastest Way to Appear Credible and Beat Imposter Syndrome for Good

One of the biggest hurdles I see my clients trying to overcome is the feeling of imposter syndrome. How does one appear credible on social media after years of being silent or inactive? How does one convince people they are someone worth following and paying attention to when they’ve only just begun the process of building their personal brand? How does one get others to like, know, and trust them? When you’re first getting started, it sort of feels like a catch 22. On the one hand, you know you’ve got to put yourself out there so you can move the needle for your brand, on the other hand, it also feels incredibly awkward to start creating content like you “own the place” when your last Instagram post was from the year 2017.  You might be thinking, what are people going to think? Why should anyone pay attention to me? 

I get it. There’s an awkward transition period that most people go through as they begin to build their personal brand. It’s the jump from social media for personal use, to social media for a purpose. And there really isn’t a way out except through. 

Mind you, the worst thing you can do is go *half-in*. This is an all or nothing kind of thing. You have to jump. Here are some sure-fire ways that you can make the transition period feel the least awkward as possible, boost your credibility, and beat imposter syndrome for good. 

Let’s do this.

Share what you know.

The quickest and absolute best way to convince people you are someone worth following is to share what you know. That’s it. Over and over again. This is an easy formula that takes you from capable to credible. Create content that educates people about the topics you know best—and treat this task like it’s your literal job.

Sharing valuable content regularly creates a context in which you become the teacher and your audience becomes your students. Adopting this mindset will help you to create layers of positive experiences that you give confidence and motivation to keep sharing.

Remember, people may not pay attention to you right away, but you’ll eventually pique their interest. Play the long game and stick with it!

Speak with confidence.

You have to be sold on yourself before you can sell anyone else. No one is going to pay attention to you if it’s clear that you haven’t convinced yourself that you’re someone worth paying attention to. 

Here’s a trick: even if you’re afraid to speak up, you actually don’t have to let anyone know! NO ONE knows you’re not confident until you give them a reason to believe that you’re not. Muster up some courage and speak with absolute certainty. Practice in the mirror if you have to, do whatever it takes to show up as your most confident self for your audience. 

Remember, this is why uncovering your purpose is so important to the success of your personal brand. The thought of rejection, when it’s in the name of your purpose, is something most of us are willing to undergo. There’s a quiet confidence that comes when you know you’re fulfilling a higher calling. Not sure if you’re on the right path? You should apply for Personal Brand Accelerator, many of my students have discovered their purpose by enrolling in this transformational program.

Serve your audience.

You’ve got to come from a genuine place of service and empathy if you’re going to do this personal branding thing right. Put yourself in their shoes. What would you have needed to hear 5 or 10 years ago? What would have made a significant difference if someone would have shared these things with you? When you can genuinely understand what people are struggling with, you can serve them on the deepest and most impactful level. I am not talking about writing a few thoughtful Instagram captions here and there, I am talking about RADICAL service and empathy. Responding to comments, DMs, Emails, like it’s your job. Asking questions, solving peoples’ problems, concerning yourself with their deepest fears and desires. You’ve got to go even deeper than you think you’ve already gone.

The best advice I’ve been given in my career as a marketer is to care. That’s it. Simply care about the people you are trying to help. When you do this, you literally can’t go wrong.

I hope you’ve found these tips to be useful for you as you overcome your fear of imposter syndrome. Remember, most of this experience this feeling at some point or another. It’s normal, it’s part of the process. When you begin to feel meek or timid around sharing content, ask yourself why. Seriously, have a conversation with yourself and try to uncover what’s at the root of your fears. Is it a fear of rejection? Is it caring too much about what others think of you? Remember that fulfilling your purpose is ultimately the greatest contribution to the world you can make, and *not* sharing what you know actually does your audience a disservice! 

Share what you know, speak with confidence, and serve your audience--radically.

See you out there! 

A