This topic sometimes comes up in those conversations which you can have with people who are not afraid to be vulnerable and open up about their fears. Imposter Syndrome (IS) is something online stats say that about 70% of the general population experience, a percentage which increases to around 82% of the working population, with recent studies showing that this affects men and women pretty much equally. (In the past, it was felt that women were more likely to experience this).
IS is common among young professionals, students, and high-achievers stepping into new roles or challenges, particularly in fields like medicine, academia, tech, and creative industries. So what exactly is it?
IS is a psychological pattern where individuals doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent, internalized fear of being exposed as a “fraud,” despite clear evidence of their skills, achievements, and competence. Some of the main characteristics include:
- Self-Doubt: Constantly questioning your own abilities and skills; how did I get here?
- Attributing Success to Luck: Believing your achievements are due to luck or timing, not your own hard work or talent.
- Fear of Being “Exposed”: Feeling like others will eventually discover you’re not as capable as they think which can lead to anxiety.
- Overworking to Prove Worth: Pushing yourself excessively to compensate for perceived inadequacies which can be anything from issues you had growing up to physical characteristics like not being strong enough.
- Discounting Praise: Brushing off compliments or positive feedback as people being “nice” rather than genuine. It’s not easy to accept a compliment, but we should all try to acknowledge the person’s words.
- Perfectionism: Setting impossibly high standards and feeling like a failure if they’re not met; these can lead to early burn out and also leave us in an unbalanced work v personal life situation.
The main causes of IS include growing up in a competitive environment (which can include pressure from parents) as well as traits like anxiety or low self esteem; I’ve often blogged about the negative effects of doom scrolling on social media accounts which only depict “picture perfect lives and physical attributes”; this does not help in any way….
So what can we do about IS?
- Recognize and Acknowledge It: Awareness is the first step to overcoming it, try talking to someone you trust who has walked the same path as you as they are more likely to understand.
- Reframe Your Thoughts: Replace self-doubt with positive affirmations; not an easy thing to do I know,
- Celebrate Achievements: Take time to acknowledge your successes, big and small; see the positive things you have achieved rather than focusing on what you didn’t complete.
- Stop Comparing Yourself to Others: Focus on your journey and progress; your path is rarely the same as anyone else’s. You may be neighbours but that does not make you the same person.
- Embrace Mistakes: See failures as opportunities to learn, not proof of inadequacy. Think of all the famous people who have failed countless times before realising their goals.
- Set Realistic Goals: Avoid setting impossibly high standards; here is where a colleague or other business owner can help.
- Seek Support: Professional counseling or coaching can provide valuable tools if you can find someone who is easy to open up to.
If you have experienced IS and would like to chat with someone, do get in touch.
Photo by Alysha Rosly
