Imposter Syndrome

Is imposter syndrome really a thing?

That feeling of being in a role but not feeling skilled or knowledgeable enough to do it justice. Most people have felt it at some point, and there is a whole industry built around naming and normalising it.

I want to pick this concept apart a bit, because I think it actually describes two very different situations, and only one of them is a real problem.

Situation One: You Genuinely Don’t Have the Skills Yet

If you are in a role and you don’t yet have all the skills or knowledge to complete it, that is not imposter syndrome. That is exactly where you want to be.

You are in the growth zone. You are being challenged to build the skills you need to tackle what is in front of you. This is uncomfortable, but discomfort is the whole point. It is how growth works.

There is a caveat though. If the challenge is too big, too far beyond your current ability, this can tip in to undue stress rather than healthy growth. You will never be able to live up to expectations that were unrealistic in the first place. Being realistic about the size of the stretch you are taking on matters just as much as being willing to take it on.

Situation Two: You Have the Skills, But You Doubt Yourself

Then there is another situation entirely. One where you actually have the required skills and knowledge, but you doubt your own ability to apply them.

This doubt can stem from your own internal chatter, or from taking the words of other people too much to heart. Either way, it manifests as the same feeling: self-doubt, and the anxiety that comes with it about what might happen next.

The Antidote: Strip Away the Feeling and Check the Facts

The way through this is to strip away the emotion the situation has triggered, and look at the facts using logical reasoning.

Ask yourself:

Do I have evidence that I have achieved similar tasks before?
If I break the outcome down in to its composite actions and tasks, do I have evidence that I have handled tasks like these before?

If you can answer yes to most of this, you are on the right track. You are in the growth zone, which is exactly where you want to be.

Still Feel Anxious?

You don’t have imposter syndrome. You have fear of failing.

When we push ourselves to take on something new and challenging, we are less able to predict a successful outcome with confidence. That uncertainty is what causes the fear and anxiety. Not because deep down you don’t think you can do it, but because you fear the consequences of failure.

So the real question is not “am I an imposter?” It is: what is actually behind my fear and anxiety?

Be honest with yourself about the answer, and you will find the right strategy to recentre and refocus.

Take Away

What gets labelled as imposter syndrome is almost always one of two things: being in the healthy growth zone where your skills genuinely haven’t caught up with the challenge yet, or having the skills but fearing the consequences of failure when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. Neither means you don’t belong. Check the evidence of what you have achieved before, be honest about which of the two you are actually facing, and you will find you were never an imposter at all.