Graduate School of Political Management Blog

Very recently, a wonderful, bright, seemingly “all-put-together” student told me she was suffering from imposter syndrome. It made me sad to hear because I thought to myself if this student is feeling like that, I imagine many others are as well. So, I was inspired to write this blog so that others suffering from imposter syndrome know that they are not alone and they should not suffer in silence about it.

What is imposter syndrome anyway?

Harvard Business Review defines imposter syndrome as a “feeling that you do not deserve your job despite all of your accomplishments in the workplace and hold back from taking risks for fear of failure”. You may feel as though you are a fraud. An example of imposter syndrome is you may have just received a promotion and all of a sudden you are a “Vice President”, and your mom or dad never even had that title or salary.

What are some signs of imposter syndrome?

• You feel like a fake
• You feel that you just “lucked out”
• You say to yourself … “if I can do it, anyone can”
• You beat yourself up over even the smallest things
• You cannot accept praise or compliments
• You have a lot of self-doubt

How to handle feelings that you are an imposter?

• Learn to focus on your strengths and weaknesses
• Learn to forgive yourself and know that many others feel the same way you do
• Strive for your best --not perfection
• Talk it out. Don’t suffer in silence. Find a friend/trusted colleague to talk to about your feelings

Some famous people who have stated they have suffered from imposter syndrome: 

• Tom Hanks
• Sheryl Sandberg
• Lady Gaga
• Howard Schultz
• Justice Sonia Sotomayor
• Tina Fey

According to the BBC, imposter syndrome tends to hit women and people of color harder because corporate boardrooms and organizations have historically been ruled by white men who maintained "good ol' boy" networks and excluded others who did not look like themselves. We all need to see people like ourselves in positions we strive to attain.

Yes, it takes work to help deal with feeling like an imposter in the workplace. By doing your best, talking to others, not beating yourself up, and taking it one day at a time, we can move forward together and listen to our internal positive talk to drown out some of the negative feelings and bad chatter. The pandemic has hit everyone in different ways and has been much worse for some than others. Try to start every day with a positive thought, prayer, meditation, or feeling. As we gain more and more experience, we can all work to deflect feelings of being an imposter. Be kind to yourselves. Know that you are not alone.

Alan Kelly and I met in 2006. He had just completed a book manuscript and sought a blurb and a collaboration, both of which I was delighted to provide.

Alan was attempting to transfer his knowledge of public relations to political management. He had systematized what he learned during a highly successful stint as the founder and head of a pre-Internet Silicon Valley PR firm, believing it held lessons for campaigns and governance. The title and subtitle of his book say it all: The Elements of Influence, The New Essential System for Managing Competition, Reputation, Brand, and Buzz.

Alan devised a periodic table that labeled and sorted plays that political communicators make as they work. Call outs. Lanterns. Floats. Baits. Deflections. There are twenty-five plays in all, and Alan used them to analyze public affairs and advise corporate clients. I don’t think he ever dipped into consulting on elections. But he loved writing and talking about the moves of politicians.

We had a blast together doing a weekly radio show “Plays for the Presidency” in 2007 and 2008 on Sirius XM. We made a good team, if I do say so, because my approach to the topic of influence is inductive and Alan was a deductive guy to his bones, at least in this phase of his career. So we argued as often as we agreed, always with a good deal of humor and devotion to being as insightful as we could. 

I brought Alan into the adjunct faculty orbit at GSPM. He taught his system to our students and elsewhere right up until his sudden passing on April 13. He was a gentleman with a gregarious spirit. He leaves his wonderful wife Kim and children Katie and Leo, and dear memories for those of us who worked and sailed with him.

Michael Cornfield is an associate professor at the Graduate School of Political Management and research director of the Global Center for Political Management.

• Make sure your LinkedIn is current and reflects your best self. Join relevant groups. Work to increase your connections.
• Check out your Facebook settings. Make sure your personal world is set to the "private" setting.
• Comment on Twitter but make sure you do not sound like someone who nose-dived into a deep and dark rabbit hole.
• Establish your own website when you have content to share. But, avoid sounding or looking rabid.

• Brush up your resume and have someone review it for you.
• Craft cover letters that are customized for each particular job opening.

• Grow your network
• Attend and participate in virtual and in-person events.
• Reach out to current and former colleagues.

Current and prospective GSPM students often ask about the various organizations that they can pursue and target for job opportunities in their field. Trade associations provide many ripe and potentially lucrative opportunities for those wielding a GSPM Degree.

What Are Trade Associations Anyway?

According to Wikipedia, "a trade association is an industry group, business association, sector association, or industry body, and is an organization founded and funded by businesses which operate in a specific industry". Generally, one of the primary purposes of a trade association is to influence public policy.

There are over 45,000 trade associations in the United States. Many trade associations are headquartered in Washington, D.C., as well as other major U.S. cities and state capitals.

Where Can You Learn More About Trade Associations?

There is an organization called the American Society of Association Executives, or ASAE, known as the " Association of Associations". ASAE has an excellent and free job center that features employment opportunities and openings and informative career resources. Current and prospective GSPM students are encouraged to take advantage and to utilize many of the free career resources ASAE provides.

What Types of Jobs Are Available at Trade Associations?

The GSPM degree prepares you for the many types of jobs available at trade associations. One can explore opportunities in the following areas:

• Public Affairs/Public Relations
• Government Affairs, Government Relations/Legislative Affairs/Advocacy
• Communications, Social Media, Speechwriting, Marketing
• Public Policy
• PAC Management
• Event Planning, Event Management
• Membership

GSPM has many alumni and students working in trade associations representing a diverse range of businesses. There are trade associations for just about everything such as the Snack Food Association, American Medical Association, American Bar Association, American Dental Association, and many more.

GSPM Library Resources Available to Learn More About Trade Associations

In addition to all of the great information ASAE provides about trade associations, GSPM students should explore additional resources provided at GW's Gelman Library. Our assigned librarian is Dr. David Ettinger. Students can schedule a call to further explore the trade association world. For example, there is a guide called the Encyclopedia of Associations, which is a comprehensive source of information on associations.

Career Growth Development Opportunities at Trade Associations

Trade associations provide great opportunities to grow and develop stable careers from entry-level jobs to C- Level opportunities. One can spend one's career moving from the cubicle to the C-Suite. We at GSPM encourage our folks to explore the many opportunities available at trade associations.

Perseverance is the key to success. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the patterns of work and life, disrupted travel—international travel in particular, physically separated families and colleagues, and tested the strength of the global economy and global ties in general. And yet, the global politics programs of the Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM) have continued, and its international partnerships have endured.

GSPM’s cooperation with government officials and civil society of Georgia—a strategically important country where Europe meets Asia—represents an excellent showcase. In May of 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic-related lockdowns, instead of travel to Georgia—as part of the Global Perspectives Residency—the immersion program went virtual. H.E. Ambassador David Bakradze and our partners—Sector 3 – Hub for Development, Center for Development and Democracy, and Endowment “ProDemos”—helped assemble an impressive online program. VIP participants in the four-day E-Residency included Archil Talakvadze, Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia; Kakha Kuchava, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia; Levan Davitashvili, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture; and Mariam Kvirishvili, Head of the Tourism Administration.

The July 14th GWU session held under the title US Democratic Leadership and Global Diplomacy is a recent example of GSPM-Georgia cooperation. As part of the GSPM Summer Series and the DC Residency, that is, a program on Washington politics, this session brought as panelists former Representative Loretta Sanchez and Giorgi Tsikolia, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Georgia to the US. Open to the GWU community and attended by our Georgian civil society partners, the session was moderated by Professor Alexander Downes from the GWU Elliott School of International Affairs.

Responding to the moderator’s question about the importance of democracy promotion in the hierarchy of the US foreign policy objectives, Mr. Tsikolia emphasized that “without democracy, it is not possible to build a prosperous state” and characterized the US support of fledgling Georgia’s democracy as bipartisan and transformative. The cited evidence included the US investment of $4 billion in Georgia in the last two decades, which facilitated progress in economic development as well as judicial and electoral reforms. USAID programs on the environment, education, gender equality, and support of democratic reforms as well as investment from the US International Development Finance Corporation are essential for sustainable development and Georgia’s full integration in the Western institutions, which is vigorously pursued by the Georgian leadership.

On the subject of the role of the military force in the promotion of democracy, Mr. Tsikolia underscored the importance of NATO in ensuring the global security architecture and Georgia’s successful fulfillment of requirements for membership in this organization. “We need to defend ourselves, to deter aggression,” – said Mr. Tsikolia, referring to the Russian military aggression against Georgia in August of 2008 and subsequent illegal occupation by the Russian Federation of Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia. He also noted the participation of the Georgian military in the global fight against terror, including the missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, in which 32 Georgians lost their lives. For Georgia, safeguarding the liberal world order is crucial: it mitigates external threats and allows devoting more resources to developing economy and society.

Some of the attending students were wondering whether diplomacy should change as the world changes: cyberattacks, including ransomware attacks, proliferate, and the threats from non-governmental actors can be no less significant than those from superpowers. Mr. Tsikolia acknowledged dramatic changes in the global economy and lifestyle due to the expanded access to new technologies. He also pointed to the challenges that diplomats experience because of heightened publicity and quick travel of information. To confront these challenges and address both national and global priorities in a timelier and more effective manner, international institutions—from NATO to the International Financial Institutions and the World Trade Organization—are critical, stated Mr. Tsikolia. He also welcomed informal, frank dialogues like the one to which he contributed—as an opportunity to engage young people in the discussion about modern ways of conducting diplomacy in adaptation to the evolving global landscape. 

For young political professionals and students of American politics and policies, understanding global politics and international affairs is imperative. In recognition of this reality, GSPM offers a Global Politics concentration and a Global Public Relations certificate. An unparalleled GSPM alumni network—spanning from the Pentagon and Capitol Hill to the world’s capitals—testifies to the value of a global outlook for skills and influence in public relations, legislative affairs, and political management for the benefit of all. 

GSPM’s partnership with Georgia and Georgians is part of the school’s agenda for success of its students and alumni. Notwithstanding the pandemic and related difficulties, this partnership will persevere, and we hope that the next Global Perspectives Residency about Georgia will include a trip to Tbilisi and in-person meetings with our colleagues, friends, and new acquaintances. 

Dr. Natalia Dinello is the Director of the Global Residencies Program at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management.

• LinkedIn - Make sure to use all available features. Join relevant groups, find alumni working at places that interest you. If you do not know how to take advantage of all available features, take the time to watch some of its instructive videos. Send invites and connection requests to everyone in your groups. GW has hundreds of thousands of alumni on LinkedIn.
• Leadership Connect - GW students have 24/7 access to this amazing tool. You can find email addresses of people working on Capitol Hill, in corporations, associations, etc. An advanced search will show GW contacts working at key places. Reach out to them and request an informational meeting. If you want to learn how to use it, write to GSPM's assigned librarian, Dr. David Ettinger, at dettingr@gwu.edu.
• GW Career Connect - Check out my blog from last month. GW recently unveiled this great tool designed to connect alumni, students, and professors. Visit careerconnect.gwu.edu.
• Google - When all else fails, just Google it! Somewhat frequently, students will write to me asking for information that is easily findable online. Try not to be one of those people. I will wonder about your ability to do the job.