“Imposter syndrome” can be defined as the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills. It also refers to an internal experience of believing you are less competent than others perceive you to be.
That simply means feeling inadequate in professional-related situations despite having more than enough expertise and experience in a field. This is usually common with high achievers or people who excel in their field; they consistently feel inadequate or fraudulent despite the evidence of their success.
It is also more common among women than men because of prior assumptions that men are better than women. Women suffering from imposter syndrome always describe the feeling that they are not smart enough or good enough to be in their current position; they feel like a fraud or that they are undeserving of everything they have worked for.
According to research, imposter syndrome is a widespread phenomenon that impacts a majority of people at least once in their lives.
Signs of Imposter Syndrome
- An inability to realistically assess your competence and skills
- Attributing your success to external factors
- Berating your performance
- Fear that you won’t live up to expectations
- Overachieving
- Sabotaging your own success
- Self-doubt
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Types Of Imposter Syndrome
The perfectionist
These are people with imposter syndrome who strive to be their absolute best, no matter the cost to their mental health.
These individuals set really high standards for themselves.
The superwoman
This set of people is called “superwoman” because they often struggle with work addiction.
They always feel inadequate compared to their colleagues and continue to push themselves as hard as possible, regardless of the consequences on their mental, physical, and emotional health.
The natural genius
This set of people represents a person who not only struggles with perfectionism but also sets out to achieve giant goals on their first try. They feel unworthy, guilty, and somewhat ashamed if they cannot easily complete a task or achieve a goal on their first try.
The soloist
This set of people has great difficulty asking others for help. Perhaps they may feel that others are not as competent as they are or that they must prove their own worth through their productivity
The expert
This set of people never feels good enough, despite being extremely knowledgeable. These feel like they are less experienced than their colleagues if they do not know an answer or have knowledge on certain topics.
Causes Of Imposter Syndrome
Although the exact causes of imposter syndrome are not really known. Chances that upbringing, family background, personality, and genetic factors all play a role in the development of imposter syndrome.
According to Wikipedia, “common causes of impostor syndrome include feelings like stigma, stereotype threat, or an overall sense of ‘intellectual phoniness.'”
A perfect example would be a woman working in an all-male institution; she is most likely going to worry that her accomplishments are not good enough compared to her peers’ accomplishments or vice versa.
How To Overcome Imposter Syndrome
Communicate
Talking about feelings of inadequacy with others helps you and makes you feel better; it could be your friends, family, or a therapist.
Accentuate the positive
Perfectionism can indicate a healthy drive to excel. The trick is not to obsess over everything being just so. Do a great job when it matters most, without worrying over routine tasks. Forgive yourself when the inevitable mistake happens.
Separating Facts from Feelings
Take things one day at a time and set clear, measurable, and realistic goals; separate feelings from the facts. Always question negative thoughts and begin to replace them with positive thinking.
Exercise and meditation
Performing exercise and meditating, also learning to accept thoughts, feelings, and emotions, even if they are negative, helps you move forward despite negative feelings.