How to overcome imposter syndrome
We understand that running a small business comes with it challenges. From understanding how to get in the press to creating content for Instagram, there are day to day hurdles that can leave you feeling at a loss with your personal and branded progress. This is where imposter syndrome can start to creep in, making you question the value of your skills and your brand. Defined as "a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success", imposter syndrome can affect the best of us when we least expect it. We’ve put together a few tips to help you get back into the groove when you’ve hit a wall with your brand.
FIND YOUR COMMUNITY
When you’re working as a small business, sometimes it can be just you working from your kitchen table-come-desk five days a week. Without a team around you 24/7 to bounce ideas off, it can be easy to get stuck in a creative rut. If building your team isn’t currently viable for you brand, then look to alternative platforms for building a community. Finding businesses similar to your own on Instagram can provide a mutually beneficial space for skill sharing and problem solving.
CONSIDER CO-WORKING
Co-working spaces are great for small businesses to build networks (PR Dispatch are based in one!). Hot desk-ing means that you will be surrounded by constantly changing businesses and individuals, exposing you a wide range of skills and ideas that can then be applied to your own brand. Co-working spaces often hold weekly events where you can build your personal and branded networks.
YOU GOT THIS
With the growth of the multi-hyphen career, it’s likely that you’re responsible for multiple roles that would take up entire departments in a larger brand. Are you a social media manager - come distributer - come - designer? Credit yourself for it! Make yourself a list of your responsibilities and plan your time to best fit each one.
TRACK YOUR PROGRESS
With any business, large or small, it is important to keep track of your key progress milestones. Be it reaching 1k Instagram followers, or dispatching 100 units in a month; celebrate your achievements. This will help you to monitor your progress and identify which strategies are working and which aren’t so successful. After a few months of taking notes, you will be able to put them together and see how much you have grown as a brand.
FUTURE PROOFING
On the subject of planning, mapping out your future aims and ideas for your brand will help you to track your brands progress and success. Make a list of 5 things that you would like to achieve in the next year, be it big or small. From growing your social following to diversifying your product offering, having a plan to work with will help you to keep on track and enjoy your brand growth.
We are a small team working round the clock to give our members the best advice and support. You can find out more about us here.