Career Advice
Imposter Syndrome: What is it and How Can it be Overcome
Glassdoor Team
Glassdoor Team | Author & Career Expert at Glassdoor | 8 May 2018
No matter how much we achieve, some of us live in a state of heightened anxiety where we worry someone is going to ‘find out’ we’re less talented than the rest of the world seems to think. So-called ‘imposter syndrome’ is a widely-recognised phenomenon amongst those at the top of their game, a crippling anxiety that they’re going to be exposed as frauds with no right to be there.
Imposter Syndrome was first documented way back in 1978, when psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes realised that far from enjoying their success, many high-fliers were actually tormented by it. While others celebrate what they had achieved, those suffering from Imposter Syndrome live in dread that they will be exposed – and it’s become more and more common in the modern workplace.
Think you’re suffering from it? Here are the signs and symptoms, and just a handful of remedies…
The Diagnosis
According to research published in The International Journal of Behavioural Science, nearly 70% of people will experience Imposter Syndrome at some point in their working lives, with graduates and high-achievers more likely than most to suffer from it.
Imposter Syndrome can have a huge impact on job satisfaction and affect performance, so if you’re not enjoying work for fear of under-performing, you’re probably suffering from it. Despite achieving so much, Imposter Syndrome sufferers can find that it lowers their chances of getting a promotion or pay rise, because they’re less likely to ask or apply for such things when they worry they’re going to be exposed as failures.
The Treatment
So you’ve self-diagnosed Imposter Sydrome – what can you do to overcome it?
Well, the first thing you should do is take a step back from social media, which might be affecting your mental health and self-perception. Remember that the content people upload to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram is highly curated and designed to show only the best of people’s lives. Seeing all those glamorous selfies and stories of success will only make you feel inadequate and reinforce the belief that you’re a fraud, so stop torturing yourself and take a break from social media.
Secondly, learn to accept praise and credit where it’s due. False modesty is not an attractive trait and many of us are bad at hearing our own praises sung, but sometimes you have to just say ‘thank you’ and accept the compliment. Don’t try to shrug it off or enter into a game of one-upmanship by complimenting the praise-giver in return, because you almost always end up coming across as smug.
Finally, learn to embrace your Imposter Syndrome and turn it into a force for good. Feeling like a fraud can in fact make you better at what you do, because it keeps you grounded and realistic about what you can achieve. If you’re never expecting to achieve much in life, then it makes those little workplace successes all the more enjoyable when they do come along.
Imposter Syndrome can be a help in your career rather than a hindrance. If this sounds like you then take comfort in the fact that it can be overcome, making you a stronger, happier person in the long-run.
Lizzie Exton writes for Inspiring Interns, which specialises in finding candidates their perfect internship. To browse our graduate jobs, visit our website.
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