Impostor syndrome, also known as impostor phenomenon or impostorism, is a psychological occurrence in which people doubt their skills, talents, or accomplishments and have a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as frauds.
Imposter syndrome is that uncomfortable feeling you experience when you think you're unqualified and incompetent. You might look around and assume everyone knows what they're doing except you. And if you achieve something good, you'll chalk your accomplishments up to “good luck.”
There is no single cause of impostor syndrome—however, culture and environment are factors, with research pointing to family dynamics and the roles people learn early in life.
Imposter syndrome is the condition of feeling anxious and not experiencing success internally, despite being high-performing in external, objective ways. This condition often results in people feeling like "a fraud" or "a phony" and doubting their abilities.
A person with imposter syndrome tends to look for validation in authority figures such as a boss or family member, essentially giving them the power to dictate whether you are successful. Another way to know if you have imposter syndrome is to think over your reaction when you are successful at something.
Managers also should watch for signs and triggers indicating that imposter syndrome could become a problem. Clare Josa shares the four P indicators of imposter syndrome – perfectionism, paralysis, people-pleasing, and procrastination.
The five imposter syndrome types are the Perfectionist, Superhuman, Natural Genius, Soloist, and Expert. While the types appear differently, all make you feel fraudulent about achievement.
Even though impostor syndrome is prevalent, not enough people talk about it! Impostor syndrome can affect anyone—from professionals to students to highly accomplished and successful people. Even Michelle Obama, Neil Gaiman, and Maya Angelou have come out and admitted to having bouts of impostor syndrome.
A study of 4,000 adults found 53 per cent of women have experienced this feeling of unfounded self-doubt, incompetence, and being underqualified. Comparatively the majority of men admit they only ever feel like an imposter in the workplace (63 per cent) and over half (54 per cent) say they have never felt it at all.
Many individuals with ADHD can struggle with Impostor Syndrome. They may already feel like imposters because they may hide their difficulties from public view. Their boss and coworkers know they are smart and get results. But they know they have to work harder than anyone else at the office to get those results.
If you struggle with imposter syndrome, you might have hoped that it would go away on its own, but unfortunately, many people find that imposter syndrome doesn't go away with time or as you gain more experience and experience more success.
“Severe anxiety, an inability to be assertive with my boss, defensiveness. Self-reviews are the worst. I'm in senior management and I occasionally misuse my power when I feel like someone is going to expose me/challenge my decisions.” “[Imposter syndrome] makes me try not to stand out, so that no one will notice.”
It's not an actual mental health condition. But this term (also known as imposter phenomenon, fraud syndrome, or imposter experience) describes someone who feels they aren't as capable as others think and fears they'll be exposed as a fraud.
Imposter syndrome is a pattern of self-doubt that can lead to anxiety, stress and missed opportunities. But recognizing it and having the tools to get past it can help you get out of your own way.
You can also reframe your thoughts. Young says she reminds people that the only difference between someone who experiences impostor syndrome and someone who does not is how they respond to challenges. “People who don't feel like impostors are no more intelligent or competent or capable than the rest of us,” Young says.
The new study also found imposter syndrome is not correlated with intelligence or performance. It is truly a misperception that a person has about their own capabilities. In addition, imposter syndrome is correlated with greater incidence of depression.
The opposite of imposter syndrome is a sense of self-assurance and self-confidence. It is also a belief in yourself. It is the knowledge that you are capable, competent, and deserving of the success you have achieved. Imposter syndrome is characterized by self-doubt and negative self-talk.
Imposter Feelings May Be Linked to Burnout and Stress
A literature review Cokley coauthored, published in 2020, found that among people who work, those who struggle with imposter syndrome may experience lower job satisfaction and performance — and that imposter feelings may contribute to burnout.
But here's the thing: imposter syndrome isn't just a toxic excuse for failing. It's an actual “mental health” problem affecting many high-achieving individuals. Yet it's not formally recognised as such.
Impostor syndrome, also known as impostor phenomenon or impostorism, is a psychological occurrence in which people doubt their skills, talents, or accomplishments and have a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as frauds.
I also found, interestingly, that having imposter thoughts actually improves interpersonal performance at work: helping people, cooperating, and encouraging others. It seems that when employees feel that their competence is lower than others think, they may be spurred to prove themselves on an interpersonal level.
Being able to share openly can benefit you and your boss. There's real strength in acknowledging your mistakes, perceived flaws, and everything else you're facing in between.