Impostor Syndrome

If you answered yes to any of these statements, you may be suffering from a self-defeating mindset known as Impostor Syndrome or Impostor Phenomenon (IP). This mental health condition was identified by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes who observed highly-accomplished women feeling undeserving of their success. These professional women attributed their achievements to external factors and seemed unable to give themselves credit for all that they had accomplished. Later studies confirmed that men experience Impostor Syndrome too.

Individuals who experience impostor feelings often suffer with anxiety and tend to over-perform in compensation for their perceived shortcomings. In an effort to avoid revealing any ‘evidence’ of their lack of competence, they work extra long hours, striving for perfection, setting impossibly high standards for themselves.

As leaders, they may find it difficult to delegate, keep too much work for themselves and have difficulty providing constructive feedback to others. Being promoted to higher levels of responsibility and decision-making may bring on more anxiety and fear of not deserving their promotion or performing to expectations and have them feel even more nervous and isolated.

I have experienced Impostor feelings myself and know the persistent apprehension, the pain of doubting myself and the discouragement of wondering if I would ever feel authentically competent.