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What is Imposter Syndrome?
All managers and leaders have doubts about their abilities at some point or other in their careers, however Imposter Syndrome is more that this:
- More than occasional self-doubt, but rather a constant feeling of being unable to live up to expectations
- Imposter Syndrome is a form of self-sabotage. Managers who do not address Imposter Syndrome will ultimately fail
- Imposter Syndrome is the anticipation of failure as an inevitiability
Diagnosis of Imposter Syndrome
It is a fine line between humility and Imposter Syndrome. Here is a tool to diagnose Imposter Syndrome:
| Do You Feel… | ||
| Humility | OR | Imposter Syndrome |
| Gratitude for the good luck you’ve had | OR | Feel the only reason you’ve got this far is dumb luck |
| Are thankful for help or mentoring from others | OR | Think the only reason you’ve gotten ahead is because of others |
| Are motivated and excited by new challenges | OR | Don’t ever get comfortable before moving on to next challenge |
| Move laterally to expand your skills and advance your career | OR | Move often before anyone discovers you as the fraud you feel yourself to be |
Reactions to Imposter Syndrome
- A Purdue University Study found that women and men that experienced Imposter Syndrome reacted in different ways:
- Women with Imposter Syndrome strive to out-perform others, and work excessively hard to do this.
- Men with Imposter Syndrome avoid situations where they might be exposed.
How to Remedy Imposter Syndrome
- If you suspect you may have Imposter Syndrome, you need to identify and recognize the feelings for what they are:
- Fear of failure – A healthy attitude towards failure is that it is part of the process of being successful, and there is always something to be learned from a failure. Those with Imposter Syndrome have a mortal fear of failure.
- Excessive risk aversion – those with Imposter Syndrome have extreme aversion to risk, as more risk increases the chances of failure, which may expose them as a fraud in their mind.
- Perfectionist tendencies – No one expects perfection except perfectionists, and as such their inability to achieve it can result in Imposter Syndrome.
- By addressing these root causes (fear of failure, risk aversion, perfectionism) you may be able to overcome Imposter Syndrome.
- Keep a list of things you do well, and good feedback that you have received. It is helpful to remind yourself regularly of what your strengths are.
- Be self-aware — Figure out if you actually are an imposter. The best case scenario for someone with Imposter Syndrome is to recognize it for what it is, address the root causes, and move forward with confidence. In other cases, people may have, in fact, gotten themselves into a situation that they are ill-equipped to handle. If this is the case, you need to recognize it, and make an appropriate change.
3 things to Remember About Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
- Everyone has self-doubt – this is healthy and normal.
- Identify the root cause of any insecurities. If you find yourself with seemingly excessive insecurities, figure out why you are feeling that way.
- Keep an “I love *(Insert your name here) file”. Collect good feedback and successes you have had, and be ready to recall them frequently.
Watch the ‘3-Minute Crash Course’ about Overcoming Imposter Syndrome (CLICK THE ARROW TO START THE VIDEO):
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