Shedding the Imposter: Shining a Light on Imposter Syndrome

The term imposter syndrome is becoming increasingly more common in my circles lately.? This term is something I didn’t recognize personally until possibly two or three years ago although it’s something that has impacted me on various levels throughout my career.? According to Harvard Business Review, approximately one-third of young people suffer from it, and 70% of everyone else is likely to experience it at some point in their lives.

What is Imposter Syndrome?? Imposter syndrome is a psychological condition where individuals doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as a fraud, despite evidence of their competence.? This internal experience of believing that one is not as competent as others perceive them to be is common among high achievers who are unable to internalize and accept their success.? They often attribute their accomplishments to luck rather than to ability, and fear that others will eventually unmask them as a fraud.? Although not an official mental health diagnosis, imposter syndrome can lead to significant anxiety, lack of self-confidence, stress and, in some cases, depression.

Imposter syndrome doesn’t formally have defined “levels” in the clinical sense, but it can manifest in various forms or types, each with its own characteristics.? Understanding the differences between these manifestations can help in addressing the syndrome more effectively.? Here are some commonly accepted types:

1.?????? The Perfectionist: They set extremely high standards for themselves, and even if they meet 99% of their goals they will feel like failures.? Any small mistake will make them question their competence.

2.?????? Superwoman/man: The people push themselves to work harder than those around them to prove they are not imposters.? They have a need to succeed in all aspects of life and are stressed when they are not accomplishing something.

3.?????? The Natural Genius: They are used to skills coming easily and when they have to put in effort, their brain tells them that’s proof they are an imposter.

4.?????? The Soloist: They feel a need to accomplish tasks on their own, and if they need to ask for help, they feel that it means they are a fraud.

5.?????? The Expert: They feel they need to know every piece of information before they start a project or task and constantly look for new certifications or training to improve their skills.? They won’t apply for a job unless they meet all the criteria in the posting, and they might be hesitant to ask a question in class or speak up in a meeting at work for fear of looking stupid if they don’t already know the answer.

While these “types” help define ways the syndrome can appear it is important to understand they are not exclusive.? People can experience one or more types and at various levels of severity.

How do you overcome these feelings?

You’re very skilled or an expert in your field yet you still have these feelings.? In the same Harvard Business Review article Valerie Young is referenced.? Her doctoral research focused on observing and eliminating internal restrictions to success.

She cites an example of receiving an assignment to lead a team that you feel you are not equipped to lead.? Instead of dwelling on your inability to lead she recommends focusing on the present and working in your current reality.?

Other articles focus on acknowledging your feelings and developing short and long-term plans.? While many people are not severely impacted by the syndrome, taking short term actions are a viable option.

Overcoming perfectionism and learning to accept failures and the failures of others demonstrates that you’re not afraid to take risks and push yourself or your team.? You’re able to evolve and make your failure acceptance a learning experience.

Owning and celebrating your successes can be hard to do.? Keep a record of positive praise and review it when you are feeling negative.

Throughout my career I didn’t understand that I struggled with these feelings.? While I haven’t been significantly impacted by the effects of imposter syndrome, it is something I recognized several years ago after becoming aware of the syndrome.? I’ve taken most of the above actions to remove the thoughts I once had.? I’ve found in recent discussion that imposter syndrome is something that affects many of my peers and is extremely prevalent in the circles I run in.? It’s something that isn’t commonly talked about.?

Are you one of the many that has experienced these feelings??

What did you do to overcome your challenges?