Imposter Syndrome

Faking it, making it, and the wisdom to know the difference.

You’re not skilled enough for your position. It’s only through extra effort and sheer luck that you’re able to keep up the façade. You don’t have the credentials that real professionals have. You’re just really good at faking it. This is the mentality that a person with Imposter Syndrome might experience. The truth is your achievements are earned and you can improve your wellbeing and your performance by addressing this common phenomenon.

What is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter Syndrome or the Imposter Phenomenon is the self-perception of intellectual fraudulence related to your profession. Simply put, it’s when you feel like a fake regardless of your achievements. It’s a condition that affects an estimated 70% of students and professionals at some point in their lives and it can be difficult to correct.

Who experiences Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter Syndrome affects women more often than men, especially minority women. It’s particularly common among tech professionals such as software engineers, developers, and designers. A 2018 Blind report showed 58% of tech employees reported experiencing Imposter Syndrome at the time of the survey.

Where does Imposter Syndrome come from?

Many factors and circumstances can cause or trigger Imposter Syndrome, but research suggests the most impactful source is early childhood (Jaruwan Sakulku, 2011). A lack of positive reinforcement within a family that values intelligence and emphasizes the ease of success can cause a child to develop this uncomfortable condition as an adult. It can also be caused by discrepancies between feedback received from family and feedback received from outside sources. Other influences include gender stereotypes and culture and it’s most often triggered by starting a new job.

What does Imposter Syndrome feel like?

Self-doubt despite an ability to regularly produce results is the primary defining characteristic. The inability to realistically assess your abilities can cause anxiety. You might feel like a perfectionist, preparing more and working harder than your peers out of a fear of being revealed as a fraud. When you succeed, you’ll feel guilty because you attribute your success to luck or the extra effort you put in. This causes a cyclical pattern that can lead to depression and self-sabotage.

The Imposter Phenomenon Cycle

The cycle starts with a task. You doubt your ability to perform the task and experience anxiety. Your anxiety causes you to either over-prepare or procrastinate, which causes you to discount any positive feedback you receive about your performance. You might feel momentary relief when you don’t fail, but as the next task approaches, your perceived fraudulence increases your self-doubt, and the cycle begins again. (Jaruwan Sakulku, 2011)

How do I overcome Imposter Syndrome?

Training yourself to approach challenging tasks as an opportunity to learn, as opposed to an opportunity to fail, can help alleviate the side effects of Imposter Syndrome. When you’re intimidated by a conversation or a task, be transparent about your level of confidence and ask questions to get the information you need. Evaluate your perception and be honest with yourself about your competencies. Identify inconsistencies between your anxiety and your ability. Try to resist the urge to compare yourself to your peers, which might mean reducing your use of social media. Most importantly, remind yourself at every task that you don’t have to be perfect to deserve credit or approval.

References

Jaruwan Sakulku, J. A. (2011). The Imposter Phenomenon. International Journal of Behavioral Science, Vol. 6, №1, 75–97. Retrieved from https://so06.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/IJBS/article/view/521/pdf