On the benefit of focusing on what you like (or how I started to overcome imposter syndrome).
Many academics push hard.
We push because we have to.
To publish top papers, earn top evals, and secure tenure, we are asked to climb academic mountains.
As students, we are taught that our jobs are at risk if we don’t do well. Some are also taught that they are ‘lucky to be in a program’, creating a feeling of imposter syndrome.
In the early years of our careers, if you don’t do well, it can mean you become unemployed and seen as an imposter.
If you do well, you can be hardwired to work all the time to prove that that you earned your spot to overcome imposter syndrome.
After the climbing the first mountain of tenure, it’s no surprise then many early career faculty have a hard time slowing down & also letting go of that lingering fear that they will be fired.
I lived this life every day my first 16 years as an academic. - I got up and went to work as an assistant professor - punching out papers as if tenure depended on it - and feeling that I needed to be as good as the early career faculty in order to stay relevant.
The reality is that even after climbing the second mountain of promotion, the third mountain of publication, the fourth mountain of earning a chair, and more …
I have learned there will always be another peak to climb & no matter how many peaks you ascend you will feel like an imposter.
No matter how hard you work.
Unless.
You reimagine the trek and your self-image.
If you are early career or post-tenure, take some time in the weeks to come to think about how you want to work and what you want to work on.
Steps that I am taking.
(1) Relax the pressure to perform.
I don’t have to publish a top paper a year to keep my job.
I’ve climbed that mountain.
(2) Ask yourself what you want to optimize.
I routinely turn down admin work to focus on graduate students.
It’s a mountain I like to climb again and again.
(3) wind down what does not make you happy.
I find most of what I don’t like is voluntary - you don’t have to serve on every committee, write every review, or work for your professional group.
There is no need to climb every mountain to be a good academic.
(4) take joy in the work.
I found when I sliced out many activities esp. some that made me visible in my community - I found more joy in all parts of the job.
Climbing mountains became fun again.
(5) do what you do well
Because I was happy, I did the job better.
I have been surprised how much more fun the job is, albeit still a lot of work, when I focus.
The last four years of focus on graduate advising versus serving In leadership roles have helped me start to overcome imposter syndrome.
I no longer ask am I good enough - as often!
By learning what to step back from & to focus on ascending peaks that I enjoy, I am a lot happier in my life and my job.
I hope you can be too!
Best of luck!
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