Imposter syndrome is real.
According to the Caltech Counseling Center, impostor
syndrome is “a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist even in face
of information that indicates that the opposite is true. It is experienced internally
as chronic self-doubt, and feelings of intellectual fraudulence.”
My book is based on over 25 years of experience in higher
education. For those who don’t know, I am the Director of Compliance at a
community college. My focus is on regulatory compliance. I work with my
colleagues across the college to make sure we are up-to-date on various federal
and state regulations that apply to institutions of higher education.
In my preface I mention that I developed the idea for my
book from meetings, conferences, and trainings that I had attended over the
years. My experience researching federal regulations and writing departmental
policies added to my knowledge. Developing institutional policies and working
with cross-functional teams increased my expertise.
However, none of this prepared me for the lack of
confidence and feelings of vulnerability. Yes, I have the knowledge. Yes, I
have the expertise. Yes, I know how to do research. Yes, I know how to
communicate. One-on-one. In a memo. During a meeting. At a conference. But to
put it all in one place and share it with the world is daunting.
And so, I wrote a book. I sent it to the publisher and held
my breath. I do not expect it to be a best seller, but I wanted to share my
knowledge with a larger audience. I wanted to pass on my expertise to others.
For me, it is not a “feeling of inadequacy” in the face of information that
indicates the opposite is true. It is a feeling of vulnerability. Now everyone
knows what I am thinking.
My book can be purchased on Amazon at Institutional
Compliance: It's a Team Sport.
If you enjoy my blog and would like to follow
me on Facebook, I can be found at The Reluctant Survivor.
