Have you ever felt like you did not deserve a promotion, misled an interviewer with a few “embellishments”, or that the title on your business card gives you too much credit? Over 70 percent of people have experienced a similar feeling of fraudulence at one point or another. This “impostor syndrome” causes us to feel inadequate despite success, and we fail to recognize our accomplishments, attributing them to good timing or luck.

While this phenomenon is certainly common, it can also be detrimental to your career growth. When you feel like a fraud, it tends to lead to negative coping mechanisms (including overwork), as well as side-effects like crippling self-doubt, procrastination, risk-aversion, and hyper sensitivity to feedback.

Of course, there are ways to stop feeling fearful that you’ll be “found out” and instead elevate your confidence. Here are three simple tips on how to overcome impostor syndrome

1. Internalize feedback.

Stop sitting around thinking that you are surrounded by people who are smarter and more qualified than you are. It might be the truth, but there's nothing wrong with that. You should want to be around people you can learn from. Also, try to be objective by regularly keeping track of your success and failures. Reflect back on them for insight into your true, unbiased strengths and weaknesses. You are likely neither a failure nor absolutely perfect, but likely somewhere in between the two extremes.

To further defeat feelings of inadequacy, you can also arm yourself with a clear perspective by actively seeking out feedback - both positive and constructive. By strategically soliciting constructive criticism, you should be able to accept it as helpful rather than insulting. Do not react in a defensive or angry manner if the feedback is less than stellar. If you are able to handle it calmly and professionally, you will maintain relationships and better succeed in all of your endeavors. Also, when receiving positive feedback, embrace it objectively. Do not brush it off or lean too heavily on humility.

2. Set your own standards.

Take “perfect” out of your vocabulary. It is impossible for anyone to be unflawed — including yourself. You cannot possibly feel amazingly confident every single second of every single day. Instead of holding yourself to impossible standards, create new ones tailored specifically to you. Understand that when you are learning a new skill or starting something for the first time, you will make mistakes or feel like a fish out of water. This is natural. Do not compare your day one to someone else’s day twenty-two. In fact, stop comparing yourself to others all together. Rather than trying to imitate another’s strengths, play to your own.

3. Fake it till you make it.

Alright, so it’s a bit trite, but definitely true. The technique of pretending you are already where you want to be can effectively get you there. Change your perspective. Instead of self-doubt, convince yourself that you belong in your current position. Often we do not feel confident until after we successfully land on our feet, and yet it’s that self-belief that will actually help us take the leap in the first place. Build your confidence gradually by tackling small things that scare you over and over until they stop being so intimidating.

Above all, remember that you are not alone. The majority of us are making this up as we go along.

Have you ever experienced impostor syndrome? Share your thoughts in the comments!