No one wants to be labeled a phone, a fake, or an impostor, but you feel like one and have had self-doubts. You may have also learned about the impostor phenomenon or syndrome lately and might be wondering if it’s something you’ve got or are going through right now. Feelings of inadequacy, worry, and self-doubt characterise those who suffer from impostor syndrome. They frequently worry that they are inadequate.
These individuals don’t believe in themselves and constantly second-guess themselves and extreme emotions of anxiety and guilt are common in those who suffer from Impostor Syndrome. They doubt that they deserve achievement and admiration.
The term “Impostor Syndrome” (also written as “Impostor Phenomenon”) was first used in the 1970s. Suzanna Imes and Pauline Rose Clance, two psychologists, were the first to characterise it. Imes and Clance have experience helping depressed and disheartened people. This trend was observed in high-achieving women and was discussed in the Journal of Behavioral Science. The results of their research were widely recognised. At the moment, the idea isn’t just for ladies, but for both sexes.
Symptoms of Feeling Like a Fraud
You Have Self-Doubt and Inadequacy Thoughts
People who suffer from imposter syndrome are plagued by feelings of inadequacy. You don’t believe in yourself and that’s a problem.
- You doubt your value and feel ashamed of the acclaim you’ve received.
- You Have a Tendency to Strive for Perfection
- Imposter syndrome sufferers tend to be perfectionists.
- You have very lofty expectations of yourself.
- When you mess up, you feel stupid and angry with yourself.
- You can’t give your talents a fair trial.
- You Are an Achiever
- A lot of your high standards are set by you.
- You tend to hold yourself to impossible benchmarks and expectations.
- Disappointment and difficulty arise when you fall short of these.
- You Don’t Want Accountability
- You are too afraid of making a mistake to take on additional duties.
- You have no desire to change careers or expand your current enterprise.
- You have difficulty expressing yourself.
- You have the words in mind, but you want to run them by your coworkers first just to be sure.
- A delay is what you turn into.
- You worry excessively if you don’t receive positive feedback from others.
- You are always worried about being found out and judged
- You suspect others will discover your deception and reject you as a phony.
- You worry that your performance thus far has fallen short of standards.
- Living in continuous terror of other people’s scrutiny is harmful.
- Your emotional health may suffer as a result.
- This way of thinking is destructive because it feeds on itself.
- You don’t value your achievements.
Despite your best efforts, you frequently underestimate your abilities. The phrase “it was nothing” is a common one from your mouth. I had a lot of assistance.”You fail to recognise your abilities. You fear that attempting a similar task again will prevent you from producing the same high-quality results.
Causes
You were born into a highly competitive and demanding environment. In your family, success and accomplishments are seen as expressions of affection. In your society, parents are not shy about sharing their thoughts with their offspring. There will be moments when they praise your work and other times when they are extremely critical.
The fact that you are a member of a marginalised group has earned you the admiration of the majority. Because of your race, sexual preference, or other characteristics, you belong to a marginalised group.
Imposter syndrome typically strikes at the pinnacle of one’s career. Here are some situations in which it would be triggered successfully:
- Creating a brand-new company
- New employee orientation
- Increasing one’s status in one’s workplace
- Initiating Parenthood
You feel like an awful lot is expected of you because you strive for excellence. You feel like you have to make up for your lack of skill by giving more than your all. It’s in your character to aim high and strive for excellence. A rise in self-doubt is the result of receiving too much or too frequent praise. You’ll feel like even more of a liar after reading this.
Imposter Syndrome Subtypes
There are many forms of Impostor Syndrome. Learning about the different categories can help you better identify your position. Below is a rundown of the five categories:
A Person Who Strives for Perfection
They are never content with anything less than perfection and are more concerned with their flaws than their achievements. These individuals put a lot of strain on themselves and have a lot of anxiety.
Superman Or Superwoman
These people have superpowers for testing their boundaries. They feel inadequate in some way. Despite working harder than anyone else, their efforts are not sufficient.
The Expert
They have a lot of brains, but they can never be content with what they know. This motivates them to continue their education. They have a great deal of technical knowledge and ability, but they don’t give themselves enough credit.
The Natural Genius
They are very goal-oriented and insist on doing tasks properly the first time around. When they don’t succeed immediately, they become discouraged and angry.
The Rugged
They’re always pushing for more freedom. They have such lofty opinions of themselves that they refuse any assistance. It is seen as an indication of weakness and incompetence to ask for assistance.
Gender and the Imposter Syndrome According to Imes and Clance, women who achieve a lot may experience imposter syndrome. Recently, this has also been true for males. Those of any age who feel helpless and weak today can relate to this.
Legend has it that even Albert Einstein himself felt this way. It has been said that Einstein admitted to suffering from imposter syndrome. “The inflated regard in which my life’s work is held makes me very uneasy,” he said. I can’t help but see myself as an unwitting con artist.
Workplace Imposter Syndrome
The fear of being found out is a common symptom of imposter syndrome. Those who suffer from imposter syndrome often struggle with nervousness in social situations.
Imitation-syndrome-fueled social nervousness is a real thing. They have no social connections. They don’t think they can contribute to a group.
There are other people in the same boat as you. Those close to you aren’t the only ones impacted. If you are a manager or boss, keep an eye on your staff. Find out who among them is feeling like a fraud. Employees with this trait will feel awkward if they are complemented. They’d rather not be saddled with yet another responsibility. They are always judging themselves against others. They openly discuss their concerns about looking foolish or inept.
Does Overcoming Impostor Syndrome Work?
The first step towards recovery is realising you have an issue. Here are a few methods that have helped others get over imposter syndrome:
Recognize Your Emotions
The first step is admitting you have an issue. Start by keeping a diary. You should record your feelings of self-doubt whenever they arise. Record the compliment-givers’ responses and emotions as well. Examine your notes and think about what you found. Their responses will reveal themselves to be sincere and authentic. Therefore, your sentiments of inferiority and distrust of yourself are unfounded. Make a list of all the great things you can say about yourself. This will help you maintain tabs on your own life. Stop beating yourself up and start pushing yourself to improve.
Communicate and Interact with Others
near friends should be kept near. Confide in individuals you respect and admire. You’ll learn that having confidence in yourself is essential. You’re not giving yourself nearly enough respect. You’ll have a more positive self-image afterward.
Formulate an Action Strategy
Give yourself a pep talk when you sense yourself starting to feel down. Use the third person to avoid sounding like you’re talking directly to yourself. One possible line of inquiry is, “Why didn’t they accept the promotion?”This way, you can justify your feelings instead of beating yourself up over them.
Assess Your Abilities and Limitations
The SWOT Analysis, have you heard of it? Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats make up the “SWOT” framework. This method of making the most of limited resources is widely employed by companies. SWOT analysis applies to your own life. Take advantage of it to identify your strongest traits and learn how to improve upon your weaker areas. Knowing your capabilities and limitations can help you feel more confident. You won’t have to stress over how well you execute or how serious you come across.
Do Not Judge Yourself by the Standards of Others
There is no benefit to looking at yourself through a comparative lens. You’ll be able to see nothing but the best in them, while they’ll see nothing but the worst in you. Curb your social media consumption. The idealised versions of others’ lives presented on social media are often at odds with the truth. Your feelings of mistrust and disgust with yourself will intensify.
Don’t Try to Be Perfect
You’re only human, and making blunders is inevitable. Nobody is.
Establish objectives that you can achieve. It takes time to complete the task at hand. You can always try again tomorrow if you don’t succeed today. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you screw up. Improve yourself by reflecting on your past blunders.
Take Credit for Your Achievements
Have confidence and trust in yourself. You were given a gift from the heavens. Recognize your efforts and accomplishments. Never forget that you accomplished the work and are deserving of the credit. Rejoice in your success. Jot down these triumphs in your diary so that you can read them whenever you’re feeling down.