Imposter syndrome is the secret feeling of being a fraud when you’re not. And the fear of being found out and it affects seven out of 10 of the most highly capable, highly successful people at some point in their careers, men and women equally.
Imposter syndrome creates confusion, isolation and stress.
Confusion
It is confusing because you’re used to feeling capable and competent and suddenly it feels like you’ve lost all of your natural confidence. You’re trying to figure out why and it’s not clear.
So you think it must be you, there must be something about you.
You think that maybe you’re not quite as good as you thought you were.
Maybe you’re not quite good enough to operate at this level or in this team.
Because there doesn’t seem to be any other explanation, and everyone else seems to be doing so well.
Isolation
Imposter syndrome is isolating because everybody keeps it a secret. And if everybody keeps it a secret, then when it happens to you, you think it’s just you. Because you’re not hearing that everybody else experiences it as well.
When you keep it a secret, it is isolating. You feel more like you don’t belong, you’re out of place. So you continue keeping it a secret. And continue to think that it’s just you.
Stress
Imposter syndrome is stressful because it feels like at any moment, someone’s going to come and tap you on the shoulder and say, ‘Oh, I’m sorry. You’re not good enough. We’ve made a mistake. You shouldn’t be here. You don’t belong. Please leave.’
That constant anticipation of being caught out is very stressful. It can lead to burnout and even ending careers.
Imposter syndrome can strike suddenly and it feels like your natural confidence has just disappeared.
It’s only natural to think, ‘Well, this must be me. There must be something wrong with me.’
And that’s a mistake because imposter syndrome is not you.
It’s not a character effect. It’s not a weakness. It’s not a personal flaw.
Imposter syndrome is simply three factors coming together at the same time. It’s the combination of a specific activity, unique to you, a particular belief, which just about everyone shares, at a subconscious level, combined with a trigger of certain circumstances. These circumstances are high challenge and low levels of support happening at the same time.
When you have these three things together, imposter syndrome strikes.
Because imposter syndrome is not you and it’s not your character and it’s not your personality, then you can do something about it.
If you suspect that you might have imposter syndrome, click the link here and take the free imposter syndrome quiz.
If it is imposter syndrome, there is something you can do about it.
Free of imposter syndrome, you have effortless confidence, calm, resilience and authenticity.
You enjoy your success and who you really are.