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THE SECRET TO BEATING IMPOSTER SYNDROME

Feeling like an imposter

Defined as being the “persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills” by Oxford University, imposter syndrome is a common yet challenging mental roadblock.

Essentially, it’s a worry that others may “find you out” for being phony.

This could manifest as insecurity about having the necessary skills or expertise for a new job, self-doubt in leadership positions, or an inability to recognize your accomplishments, such as dismissing an award as being mostly earned by luck.

These damaging, self-inflicted wounds can hold us back from reaching our potential. Imposter syndrome, to one degree or another, is devastatingly common, though. As a writer of this newsletter, I (Shawn) encounter it frequently.

It can impact anyone, but celebrities and business leaders may deal with it to an extreme extent given the excessive attention paid to them, both positively and negatively.

But if pop stars can silence their imposter syndrome to perform well in front of tens of thousands of people, you, too, can overcome feelings of inadequacy.

The entrepreneur and writer, Matt Schnuck, tells us we can learn a lot from none other than Queen B, aka Beyoncé. So what does she do?

Character invention

Despite being famous for her swagger, much of that is, quite literally, an act. She uses a technique called “character invention,” rooted in drama therapy and neuro-linguistic programming. In simpler terms, you invent a character who can do things that intimidate you, enabling your “character” to perform well beyond your regular comfort zone.

Schnuck calls Beyoncé a “master at character invention,” creating a stage persona that she calls Sasha Fierce. Sasha is fearless, and no spotlight can shine too bright for her.

For the real Beyoncé subject to human emotions like you and I, she explained to Oprah that Sasha Fierce shows up, “When I hear the crowd, when I’m nervous, when I have to perform, then Sasha Fierce appears in my posture and the way I speak.”

As needed, Beyoncé Knowles channels her alter ego to be a brave pop star, performing in moments she would otherwise shy away from. However, character invention isn’t just useful for performers.

According to Schnuck, corporate executives frequently shell out thousands of dollars at exclusive seminars to master the technique.

Making your own Sasha Fierce

But for the price of reading our free newsletter (thank you, by the way, for trusting us with your time), we’ll share the five steps underpinning character invention:

1. Envision the character
2. Find the name
3. Source the trigger
4. Develop the physicality
5. Practice

Let’s break them down.

What to know

First, we must envision our character by answering questions that develop their persona concerning the role we want the character to play in our lives. For example, ask yourself how your character responds to fears and nerves before, say, public speaking.

Schnuck encourages us to “Get specific…let the character have a personality. Borrow from fiction, history, heroes, etc. This will help you bring the details to life.”

Next, we must pick a compelling name that effortlessly embodies our ambitions. Think, what will you call your Sasha Fierce?

Thirdly, source the trigger. That is, the specific moment where you switch into character. For Beyoncé, this is when she slips on her stilettos before going on stage.

It should be a physical action derived from the circumstances in which you need to rely on your character, perhaps as you look over a presentation for work for the last time or put your phone away to take a test.

After that, we should consider how it feels to be the character. Imagine their posture, tone, focus, and even walking style, so that you can truly become a physical manifestation of them. This needs to become second nature — “If you’re in your head, you’re dead.”

And lastly, practice. Try ordering a coffee or lunch as your character in a place where no one knows you, so you’re free to embrace this alternative self. The more practice you get in low-stakes environments, the better you can tackle the situations where your imposter syndrome is the most acute.

Takeaways

After a while, Beyoncé said she no longer needed Sasha Fierce anymore. Sasha became just a part of her personality, empowering her to achieve incredible things.

She even released an album called “I am…Sasha Fierce.”

From sales pitches to speeches, sports games, cooking for others, and anything else that makes you nervous, character invention is a powerful and proven technique to beat limiting self-doubts.

Dive deeper

Watch Beyoncé describe Sasha Fierce to Oprah.