Picture the following scenarios :
1rst Scenario:
When your boss called for a meeting with the most qualified and competent workers in the company, your name was on the list. Surprised and feeling uncomfortable, you entered the meeting room, asking yourself, “What am I doing here? These people are way better than me. There must be a mistake.”
At the end of the meeting, your boss announced something important: you were promoted to a managerial position. Your coworkers congratulated you and praised your competence and eligibility. Now, you feel even more nervous. Thoughts race through your mind: “Do I really deserve this position? Do I have the necessary skills for it? What if they find out that I don’t?”
2nd Scenario:
You’ve been talking with someone for a while, and you’ve started developing feelings for them. One day, your crush opens up about their feelings and expresses their intention to take things further. Despite this being what you’ve hoped for, you feel caught off guard and overwhelmed. Uncertain of how to respond, you think to yourself, “They’re out of my league. There’s no way we could be together. This won’t work out, and eventually, they’ll see through me. I’m just not good enough.”
PS : Everyone in your circle admires your exemplary character and is impressed by your refined personality.
If you’ve had a similar experience, it has a name and it’s called: imposter syndrome.
Don’t panic. It’s not a mental health diagnosis and research says that up to 82% of people have experienced the imposter phenomenon at some point in their lives.
Celebrities Who Suffer From Imposter Syndrome
Famous people like Maya Angelou, Tom Hanks and Michelle Obama openly discussed their struggle with imposter syndrome.
Maya Angelou, the iconic figure in the world of literature, described in her autobiography “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” how, despite her success and remarkable achievements, she felt like a fraud whose work was overrated. She feared that she would eventually be found out.
Tom Hanks, the Oscar-winning actor, has expressed doubts about his talents and acting abilities, which has led him to feel undeserving of his success. Despite his achievements, he has voiced fears that people might discover he lacks talent.
Last but not least, Michelle Obama, the former First Lady of the United States, despite her academic and professional successes, often experienced feelings of not belonging to prestigious institutions like Princeton University and Harvard Law School, and she doubted her entitlement to her accomplishments.
What these celebrities have in common is a feeling of self-doubt, inadequacy, and insecurity. That’s what imposter syndrome is about.
Roots Of Imposter Syndrome
Many factors contribute to developing imposter syndrome, including:
. Being a perfectionist: being a perfectionist means always striving for flawless work and leaving no room for minor mistakes. When perfectionists fall short of their exceedingly high expectations, they often perceive themselves as imposters and feel inadequate for not meeting their own rigorous standards.
. Parental pressure: it occurs when parents anticipate too much from their child, putting pressure on them to achieve high grades and results. The child may work hard to meet these expectations, but if they do not perform as expected, they may feel insufficient.
We can also measure a high-stress and highly competitive work environment, and social pressure characterized by strict norms and standards, using the same yardstick.
Impacts Of Imposter Syndrome
Imposter syndrome can have a serious impact on your personal and professional life.
On a personal level, it can cause feelings such as low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. You may find it difficult to enjoy life as you should, as the constant fear of being exposed as a fake can overshadow your achievements and relationships. This can lead to self-isolation, reluctance to take on new challenges, and a persistent sense of inadequacy.
On the professional level, imposter syndrome can prevent you from taking further steps in your career. It may cause you to decline a higher position, hesitate to apply for new jobs, fear making mistakes, or feel unworthy of celebrating a promotion. These feelings stem from a persistent belief that you are not smart enough or good enough to succeed and that they will soon realise that, which can hinder professional growth and lead to missed opportunities.
Impostorism can ruin your success and happiness.
Steps to Conquer Imposter Syndrome
1. Be aware of your case
You cannot treat an ailment if you do not diagnose it correctly and take the appropriate measures. The same applies to imposter syndrome. You need to recognize your situation and be conscious that you may be experiencing this phenomenon. This awareness is the first step toward overcoming these feelings.
2. Talk about it
A clinical psychologist in private practice in Georgia, Imes, said: “Most people don’t talk about it. Part of the experience is that they’re afraid they’re going to be found out.”
To overcome your fear, it’s important to share your feelings with people you trust. This allows you to express your emotions and can provide a sense of relief. Additionally, it may give the other person an opportunity to open up about their own struggles with the same syndrome.
Moreover, the person you confide in knows you well and is likely to challenge your negative thoughts about yourself, affirming your worthiness and value contrary to your own perceptions.
3. Learning from others’ experiences
You can join groups on social media and communities with people who have the same syndrome. Learning about others’ experiences and stories can help alleviate these feelings.
4. Stop being a perfectionist
“To err is human,” says Alexander Pope. Be gentle with yourself and embrace your imperfections.
5. Write down your achievements
Whenever these feelings invade you, take out your notebook and write down all your previous achievements and accomplishments. Recall those moments when you passed that challenging exam, when your teacher praised your efforts and intelligence in front of your classmates, when you earned that promotion coveted by your peers, when you won that competition and impressed everyone present, when you showed up at that concert and caught everyone’s eye…
By doing this, you’ll recognize your worth and value. It’s in these moments that you’ll realize you’re not tricking anyone.
Feel free to share your experience with imposter syndrome in the comments. It can relieve someone’s suffering and let them know they are not alone in this.