The Truth Behind Impostor Syndrome: The Lies we Tell Ourselves

Impostor Syndrome is such a vast topic that educating about it Today, I am sharing some research, 3 myths, misinformation, and facts about Impostor syndrome.

Did you know that up to 82% of people experience impostor feelings?

A study done by KPMG in 2020 shared that 75% of executive women say they’ve experienced imposter syndrome.

Another study shared that 80% of CEOs feel out of their depth in their role.

Every single client I’ve worked with so far has one or another form of impostor syndrome and everyone was holding on to some myths around this concept.

In this edition, I'm busting some myths around Impostor Syndrome to spread awareness in the Mental Health Awareness Month.

Myth#1: It's a Syndrome!

Reality: It is actually not a Syndrome but a phenomenon

You may wonder why and how!

Because:

1. It is not an medical diagnosis indicating a disease or disorder.
2. It is also not a condition affecting a subset of individuals. It's a widespread phenomenon that can affect anyone, regardless of their background and achievements.
3. Rather than being a dysfunction or inherent flaw, it's more of a misbelief about oneself and the fear of external judgment which makes it a cognitive distortion instead of an intrinsic defect/deficiency.

This psychological phenomenon can significantly hinder one’s career progression and mental well-being.

Dr. Valerie Young shared in her extensive research of four decades on this topic that those experiencing Imposter Syndrome often:

1. Hesitate to share their valuable ideas causing lost opportunities and reduced talent pool.
2. Avoid stepping into roles or projects that push their boundaries.
3. Miss out on promotions due to their low visibility and self-doubt.
4. Interpret constructive feedback as personal criticism.
5. Delay important tasks, affecting project timelines, teams and personal credibility.
6. Frequently switch jobs, seeking validation or escape, thus inadvertently hampering their career trajectory and resulting in costly hiring searches.
7. Commit to overworking and exhaustive preparation, leading to wasted time and productivity and to burnout.

Impostor syndrome is like driving with one foot on the brake.

Myth#2: Only High Achievers Experience Impostor Syndrome

Reality: While high achievers are often associated with impostor syndrome, it can affect anyone, regardless of their background, level of success or field of work.

There are many contributing factors beyond high achievement that can bring feelings of being an impostor. some of them include:

1. Parenting Styles: Want, J., & Kleitman, S. shared in a research that lack of care, overprotective or over critical parenting can contribute to the development of impostor syndrome in children which can persist into adulthood.
2. Social Comparison: Seeing others' success and comparison with it fuels impostor feelings. Social Media has made it worse because now the comparison is not with someone's success but their curated perception of success.

Myth#3: Impostor Syndrome Is a Motivator

Reality: While some may argue that it pushes them to work harder, impostor syndrome can lead to chronic stress, burnout, and mental health issues, making it more harmful than motivating in the long run. If not taken care, it can cause:

1. Chronic Anxiety: Individuals with impostor syndrome often experience heightened levels of anxiety. The constant fear of being exposed as an "intellectual phony" (Matthews & Clance, 1985).
2. Pressure to Overperform: These individuals fear their success will be exposed as attributed to luck, chance, extra hard work which leads to persistent worry, nervousness, feeling compelled to overprepare or overwork to avoid being 'found out'.
3. Emotional Exhaustion & Risk of Burnout: Dealing with persistent self-doubt requires significant emotional energy and the overcompensating for these perceived inadequacies adds fuel to fire leading to exhaustion over time. The habit of overworking brings in perfectionistic behaviors which are unsustainable over a longer period and further lead to burnout.

Recognizing these patterns is important for these individuals and at workplace - for the teams and leaders aiming to create a supportive and inclusive environment promoting a culture of recognition and validation.

The only way to stop feeling like an impostor is to stop thinking like an impostor.

To do that:

• These professionals need more than a pep talk.
• Externalizing their success doesn’t help.
• Digging into their past doesn’t help either.
• And this is not something one just gets over with time.

If you see ANY of these behavior below in you, understand that you are unconsciously managing the anxiety of waiting to be found out and to avoid being found out:

1. Holding yourself back
2. Over preparing
3. Relying on charm
4. Procrastination
5. Starting but never finishing
6. Keeping a low or changing profile
7. Self-sabotaging

Then, you'd be right recognizing this as Impostor syndrome which by the way has nothing to do with having low self esteem (Myth#4). People with normal self esteem also have impostor syndrome.

Everyone experiences impostor syndrome differently, and many people face multiple types at once.

If you recognize any of these behaviors holding you back from achieving your success and living freely, let's talk.

Book a call with me, and together we'll develop a personalized strategy to overcome these barriers and elevate your career and life.

Don't wait for external validation to find you; it won't be sustainable. Let's build your internal validation together.

Click here to schedule your session and propel your career & life forward.

Meenu Datta is a former Tech Leader turned Certified Executive, Leadership & Life Coach. Her writing merges leadership expertise, coaching acumen, and life lessons.

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