Amanda Rose: when ‘fake it ‘til you make it’ is a good career mantra

Sometimes a little bit of faking can go a long way at work. #Bosslady Amanda Rose explains.

FAKE it ‘til you make it. A good career mantra to live by?

It’s a yes and a no.

When it comes to important things – experience, education, anything you need runs on the board for – no, put the effort in.

Definitely don’t fake it.

But fake it ‘til you make it helps with people who may lack confidence to go for a job or speak up in a meeting or try something new.

It’s for people who think “that’s not for me” or “I can’t do that”.

The mantra can help you to speak up in a work meeting. Picture: iStock

Use the mantra to convince yourself to try something for the first time. If you do it the first time, the second time is easier and, before you know it, it’s part of who you are.

It might be running a meeting or applying for jobs or going for interviews.

Pretend to be someone else for 30 minutes – pretend to be confident and before you know it you already are.

Abilities are not in question but sometimes we have to talk ourself into seeing ourself in a certain way. Trick yourself into it. But the key is to not tell anyone that’s what you are doing.

People say “I fake it ‘til I make it” – stop saying that.

I’ve banned use of the term “impostor syndrome” because it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. People tell themselves they have it then miss out on opportunities.

Take that concept out of your brain. Instead of impostor syndrome, you have an ability complex.

Amanda Rose says it’s important not to fake the important things, though. Picture: Monique Harmer

The way people think about themselves is the reason they need to fake it. Avoid people that make you feel like crap.

Stop people pleasing or chasing after people because you want to be validated.

Say to yourself at work “I am here to achieve these three tasks today”, and the more you achieve, the more confident you will feel.

Getting yourself into an anxiety spin will block your confidence.

“Fake it ‘til you make it” does work, just don’t fake the important stuff.

Amanda Rose is a business consultant, workplace trainer, LinkedIn influencer and founder of six organisations – and now she is tackling your career questions for SMART Daily every week.

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Originally published as Amanda Rose: when ‘fake it ‘til you make it’ is a good career mantra