Approaches to tackling impostor syndrome

Hi! Welcome to the Complete Interpreter podcast by the Interpreting Coach.

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Why 'Complete Interpreter'? Because you're not just a translation machine, you're also a person and a business owner, and I hope to help you take a 360 view of yourself and share some great tried-and-tested strategies to improve your interpreting skills, mindset, use of target language, and marketing.

This episode is dedicated to impostor syndrome.

Here are some of the approaches I suggest (I've added chapter markers to help you navigate):

OBJECTIVE METHODS to fight negative self-talk

• Check the facts/zoom out
• Feedback (client, peer) - keep a file. Document your successes.
• Questioning your assumptions/expectations - journal of self-discovery
• Is my reaction based on fact or conjecture? Am I just making up stories in my heard?
• Develop the thought: does this person’s opinion matter to my happiness or job security? What would happen if they thought badly of me?

PRACTISING SELF-COMPASSION

• How would you talk to a friend?
• Affirmations
• Learn to accept praise (thank you)
• Embrace progress, not perfection
• Celebrate your successes. Don’t belittle yourself.

GET HELP

• Open up to trusted people (and get a reality check or emotional support)
• Life coach or therapy – low self-esteem

REDEFINE ‘SUCCESS’ i.e. progress, not perfection

• Challenge yourself to fail - did it hurt? e.g. write with wrong hand, art course.

CPD RESOURCES

• Andy Gillies fantastic CPD website: https://interpreterscpd.eu/contributors/
• Andy's post about doing simultaneous for his students
• Skilliga (directory of courses, webinars etc.)
• Rock your Retour - membership site for English retourists
• Stress management ecourse - 8 science-backed body techniques, 5 'mind' techniques to help you with performance anxiety

OTHER MATERIAL

• My blog post about art: "What art taught me about interpreter training"
• My podcast about what to do when you have a bad day in the booth

Let me know what you'd like me to talk about next!

Sophie (aka The Interpreting Coach)

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Twitter: @terpcoach
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