No products in the cart.
The one phrase I absolutely tired of hearing the past two years was imposter syndrome. Hard-working, well-accomplished people, particularly women were claiming to be stricken by this malady. Let me just say this upfront. Stop owning the labels and characteristics other people conjure up to gain attention and to get published.
The term imposter syndrome was coined back in 1978 by some women psychologists, of all people. “Imposter syndrome is loosely defined as doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. It disproportionately affects high-achieving people, who find it difficult to accept their accomplishments. Many question whether they’re deserving of accolades.”
Let’s not confuse this with humility. Just because you’re not bragging about your accomplishments doesn’t make you an imposter. Just because you experience a lack of confidence at times, doesn’t make you an imposter. And just because you don’t know every damn thing there is to know about the role or function you are in or applying for, that doesn’t make you an imposter either.
This made-up syndrome also disproportionately affects professional women of color, particularly Black women. (I do, however, know two Black women who are really imposters. That’s all I’m going to say about that.)
But here’s the thing. For those of you who think you are imposters, I want you to pinpoint who or what makes you feel that way. Unless you were walked into your position without any credentials or experience whatsoever, trust me you are not an imposter. Some other people around you might be.
I can’t tell you how often I heard this from clients. By the time we broke it down and stepped back and looked at it, they discovered their imposter syndrome was all fiction. Something they made up that didn’t have a shred of proof to validate it.
Here are some synonyms for imposter from Dictionary.com. Which best describes you?
con artist, hypocrite, actor, beguiler, bluffer, charlatan, cheat, deceiver, fake, four-flusher, fraud, imitator, impersonator, masquerader, mimic, mocker, mountebank, pettifogger, phony, pretender.
Please stop pretending that you didn’t earn your way to where you are. Own your brilliance and resilience. No need to shout it in the public square. Let it show through your work and how you lead. Remember, you can’t read the label of the jar you’re in.
Need an objective third party to help you work through this? Schedule some time with me.
Until next time
Your Executive & Leadership Coach
Sign up to our newsletter
2 Responses
Thanks Deb ! I needed to read this as I’ve gotten caught in the spin cycle of trying to get my career back on track . Which can have you second guessing your professional worth and value.
Dr. Young I want to change my name legally to what I am spiritually called. I sometimes go by my spiritual name because it’s who I truly am is that considered imposter syndrome no one else can’t go by that name but me and it’s a name no one has ever heard of GOD ALMIGHTY the BOSS gave me the name so I shouldn’t feel like pretending to be that name like people are trying to make me feel like. They allowed their own insecurities to try and cause me to doubt the BOSS but you know what I refuse to feed into their insecurities I know in my heart and spirit that GOD calls me Raven Elena Lavaria he changed my name himself so I’m going to trust him through this he is the BOSS and no matter what they say he has the final word regardless.