I don’t know about you, but I’ve been talking to a lot of folks lately who are finding themselves feeling overwhelmed, overworked, and underappreciated.
Something interesting I’ve noticed is that many of these people seem to share a lot in common.
As we’re talking, I’m hearing the same complaints again and again. There’s definitely a pattern of symptoms here.
I’m not a doctor (and I don’t play one on TV…) but I’ve been quietly diagnosing people with what I like to call Hero Syndrome.
If you’ve been feeling swamped with responsibility, yet undervalued for the work you do or overlooked despite your contributions, keep reading.
See if any of this sounds familiar —
Are you someone who…
…everyone depends on in a pinch?
…people only call when they have a problem?
…has a hard time receiving praise?
…always wants to feel wanted and needed?
…thinks being “indispensable” is job security?
…never seems to be recognized for your hard work?
It might be Hero Syndrome (which is kind of like the opposite of Imposter Syndrome).
Let me give you an example.
One of my clients was working in research and development for a quick service restaurant company — the department that came up with new and innovative products.
She felt like she was doing a great job, but she kept getting overlooked for promotions and had no idea why. So she hired me as her career coach.
It wasn’t long before I discovered her Hero Syndrome.
She volunteered for all the stuff at work that had nothing to do with her job — the company picnic, fire safety representative, you name it. She was pulled in a million different directions and totally hooked on being the go-to team player around the office.
By making sure people had to depend on her, it meant HER needs were being met, and it felt GOOD. But it wasn’t doing a thing for her actual career!
She told me she wanted to be known for coming up with creative and innovative ideas for the company. Instead, she was known for doing a little bit of everything.
So we put a plan in place to clear the deck, and after about six months, she got the promotion she was seeking.
If this sounds like you, the good news is you can turn things around too. Here’s how:
a. Start saying no. Remember NO. is a complete sentence.
b. Begin setting boundaries. Get clear on what you’ll accept and what you won’t, and make sure everyone else is aware of that too.
c. Unhook from the need that keeps getting met by saying yes to everything.
You have to clear the Hero Syndrome up! Only then will you have the time to focus on what you really want to do. This is how you’ll create the space to step into and become known for the thing you want to be known for.
Leave a Reply