When Bridget Jones is asked by a would employer “What do you think about the El Nino phenomenon?” Bridget replies “It’s a blip. Latin music’s on its way out.” (Bridget Jones’s Diary)
Impostor syndrome (IS) is an individual’s belief that they are not as competent as others perceive them to be. This definition is usually related to intelligence & achievement, but it can have links to perfectionism & social context. (1)
IS is the experience of feeling like a phony—feeling as though at any moment an individual could be found out as a fraud—like they don’t belong. (1)
Real life example – Harvard Review
Talisa Lavarry was responsible for a large scale event whereby Barrack Obama was to be the keynote speaker. Lavarry was fully proficient at organising a large scale event & the complicated logistics this required. However, what she was not prepared for was the office politics.
Lavarry’s colleagues interrogated, censured & called her professionalism into question. Concerned that being the only Black woman on her team had something to do with the incessant bullying, she began doubting whether she was qualified for the job, despite constant praise from the client. (2)
The relationship with the planning team became so acrimonious that Lavarry found herself demoted from lead to co-lead & eventually unacknowledged altogether by her colleagues. She became plagued by deep anxiety, self-hatred, & the feeling that she was a fraud. (2)
Imposter syndrome symptoms
Some of the more common IS symptoms can include:
- An inability to realistically assess your competence & skills
- Attributing your success to external factors
- Berating your performance
- Fear that you won’t live up to expectations
- Sabotaging your own success
- Self-doubt (1)
How can an individual get beyond imposter syndrome?
IS can grind an individual down & the self-doubt & feeling like a fraud can impact on every part of their life.
Therefore, how can an individual find practical ways to move past it?
1/ Talking to others is one way to start to combat the affects of IS. Irrational beliefs tend to fester when hidden & often when spoken about openly, can be seen objectively & help dispel irrationality.
Questioning whether thoughts are rational or based on an individual’s unproven view of themselves; can go a long way to moving beyond IS.
2/ Writing down accomplishments & successes can help an individual to focus on what they are really good at & help dispel the myth that they are a fraud.
3/ Overuse of social media may be related to feelings of inferiority. If an individual tries to portray an image on social media that doesn’t match who they really are, it can make their feelings of being a fraud worse. (1)
4/ No matter how much an individual can feel like they don’t belong, they shouldn’t stop from pursuing their goals. Setting realistic targets & goals both professionally & socially, can help an individual to see themselves in a more realistic light.
Imposter syndrome can be debilitating & feelings of being a fake or a fraud can be emotionally & physically draining. However, once an individual is aware of their situation, there are some effective tools at their disposal to move forward & succeed.
Written & cited by Katy-Jane Mason for & on behalf of Virtually Smart Ltd.
- https://www.verywellmind.com/imposter-syndrome-and-social-anxiety-disorder
- https://hbr.org/2021/02/stop-telling-women-they-have-imposter-syndrome
Please note: Virtually Smart Ltd are not medical professionals & the text herein is for information purposes only. If you feel you have a mental illness, please consult a medical professional.
