5 Keys to Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Achieving Career Success

You don’t have to search far online to find someone talking about imposter syndrome. If you’ve ever battled feelings of not quite measuring up, then you get it. Imposter syndrome is a real thing, but where does it come from and how do we get over it?

In 1958, an American television show called "To Tell the Truth" made its debut on the CBS television network. It featured a panel of four celebrity judges and three contestants. One contestant possessed a specific skill set. The other two were imposters. The panel of judges had to figure out who was real and who was making things up through a series of probing questions.

The show's first run lasted 12 years (1956–1968) and then sprang up again in 1969, 1980, 1990, 2000, and most recently in 2016. 

The popularity of the show signals society's fascination with people who pretend to be something they are not and get away with it. It is entertaining and feels like an exciting "whodunit" that keeps us engaged until the last clue is given.

But television is not real life, and when we're not intentionally trying to fool others but still feel like imposters, it can be debilitating and hold us captive, keeping us from achieving our goals.

In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at imposter syndrome’s impact and how we can use it to become a better version of ourselves.

What Is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome, originally "imposter phenomenon," was coined by psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes in 1978 in their paper, "The Imposter Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention,"

The initial assessment focused on 150 women and according to their findings, "Despite outstanding academic and professional accomplishments, women who experience the imposter phenomenon persist[s] in believing that they are really not bright and have fooled anyone who thinks otherwise."

Interestingly, imposter syndrome doesn’t play a gender game. Men are affected by it as well, and according to the American Psychological Association, "up to 82% of people face feelings of imposter syndrome."

Surely they're not all imposters!

Symptoms of Imposter Syndrome

How do you know you’re dealing with imposter syndrome and not just a bad case of self-doubt? If the feelings of insecurity are ongoing and intensify when triggered, then that could be confirmation. 

Symptoms of imposter syndrome can include:

What Causes Imposter Syndrome?

Both internal and external conditions cause imposter syndrome.

If you’re dealing with imposter-like feelings and can’t figure out where they’re coming from, it’s because it’s not just one source but rather a combination of many that started as early as childhood.

When we become adults, how we were wired to process information (including how we view ourselves) doesn’t go away on its own, and it spills over into how we respond to the world around us.

How Do We Overcome Imposter Syndrome?

Here are my top five keys for overcoming imposter syndrome so you can create success on your own terms:

1. Acknowledge your feelings. Feeling unworthy or like you are undeserving of what you’ve worked so hard to achieve shouldn’t be dismissed or ignored. Acknowledging that your feelings are valid is the first step to self-awareness, self-compassion, and self-worth.
   
   
2. Focus on your own success. Be honest with yourself about your accomplishments and embrace them. The road to success is not an easy one, so when we reach milestones in our journey, celebrating (no matter how small) should be a part of the process. Whether someone else notices or not, when we acknowledge ourselves, we become our own validation outside of what others think.
   
   
3. Define success on your terms. When we take the time to fully define what success means to us (apart from other people's successes), we position ourselves for greatness on our terms.
   
   
4. Reframe, rework, and realign what it means to be an imposter. Deception and fraud are the hallmarks of real imposters. If this is not your actual intent and you find that your battle is more about insecurity, try taking a deeper dive into how you were conditioned to think about your worth and then working on reframing this perception so you can realign with what's actually true.
   
   
5. Remember that you're in good company. If you are a high achiever and work tirelessly to become the best version of yourself despite your insecurities, you are not alone. Some of the greatest success stories have been born out of fear and insecurity.
   

What Does Having Imposter Syndrome Say About Us?

We spend a lot of time looking at what is wrong with us, but what if we flipped imposter syndrome to be the complete opposite?

Being a high achiever who believes in being authentic shows ambition and a heart for others.

I'd like to think that having imposter syndrome points to our humanity rather than our flaws. We care about what other people think. We don't want to defraud them. We want to offer the world our best selves, with transparency and authenticity. This is a good thing.

Giving ourselves the breadth and width to grow and become our best version is the key to overcoming imposter syndrome — one that begins with loving and appreciating what we bring to the table despite our insecurities. 

While feelings of self-doubt that wander into imposter syndrome territory are something that many adults will experience in their lifetime, they shouldn't be debilitating.

If you feel that imposter syndrome is getting in the way of making progress in your professional path, our certified team of coaching professionals can help you flip that feeling into a positive one. It's all about finding balance and the best solution for your immediate needs and we’re here if you need support in doing that.