Fear Of Failure? Seasoned Lawyers Share Tips For Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

During an unprecedented pandemic year, personal and professional anxieties can throw even the most seasoned lawyers off their games. If you struggle with lack of confidence, perfectionism, imposter syndrome — or all of the above — you’re not alone. Three experienced attorneys recently sat down to discuss the topic, and strategies for success, in the Practising Law Institute Studio Briefing, Imposter Syndrome in the Legal Community – Fear of Failure and Perfectionism. Here are some key takeaways:

It’s more common than you think. Surveys have shown that up to 70 percent of people may experience imposter syndrome, defined as “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,” according to the program’s moderator, Cameron G. Stout, of Stout Heart, Inc.

Stout, a financial services defense litigator and mediator who has battled major depression, now shares his story of hope and resilient recovery as he coaches other attorneys facing challenging times. While imposter syndrome is not classified as a mental health disorder, it can be a contributing factor in serious conditions like anxiety and depression — so it’s important to recognize and address its symptoms.

Don’t compare. In a field of high achievers like the legal profession, it can be nearly impossible not to look around and compare yourself to others. Joseph Milowic III, an Intellectual Property partner at Quinn Emmanuel and a founder of the Lawyers Depression Project, noted that he has often felt he isn’t at the caliber of his colleagues boasting multiple Ivy League degrees and other impressive backgrounds (including an actual rocket scientist). But in trying to keep up and get ahead on others’ achievements instead of focusing on his own, he said, “I ran to the point of exhaustion and couldn’t run anymore.” Recovering from this burnout required a perspective shift, to “realizing that I am good enough,” he added.

Try vulnerability. Andrea L. Colby, an IP attorney and professional coach with Pro Se, LLC, recalled a time early in her career when she was promoted to a role in which she supervised other attorneys. Struggling with impostor syndrome, she worried that her promotion had to do with her gender, and that she wasn’t as knowledgeable or experienced as the lawyers she was supervising. To overcome the challenge, she said, she learned to make herself vulnerable by asking for direct feedback about where she fell short and how she could serve clients and colleagues better.

While showing vulnerability at work can be daunting, the speakers acknowledged, everyone can benefit from connecting with others. If we’re not showing our authentic, true selves at work, Stout asked, “Aren’t we really being imposters — trying to be the person we think others expect us to be?”

In fact, allowing yourself to be vulnerable and kind at work can help you fulfill your ethical obligations to clients, as you’ll be able to serve them better.

For more insights, tips and resources, visit the PLI program, Imposter Syndrome in the Legal Community – Fear of Failure and Perfectionism. If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, visit The Lawyers Depression Project. Help is also available through your state’s Lawyers Assistance Program.