• Do you attribute your success to luck or coincidence?
• Do you agonize over the smallest flaws or imperfections in your work?
• When you succeed, do you secretly feel like you’ve fooled others again?
• Do you worry that it’s just a matter of time before others find out you’ve been “running a game” on them?

 

Studies suggest 70% of high achievers secretly believe they’re not as bright or capable as everyone “thinks” they are. They believe they are inadequate and incompetent failures despite evidence that indicates they are skilled and quite successful. They feel like complete frauds when it comes to their identity because they attribute their achievements and accomplishments to luck rather than personal competence. This psychological phenomenon is called imposter syndrome. Simply stated, Imposter syndrome is when we diminish or discount obvious evidence of our abilities because we believe we are actually incompetent.

 

Dr. Valerie Young, the leading expert on Imposter Syndrome, has identified 5 different Imposter Syndrome archetypes or competence types to help us understand how this phenomenon shows up in our lives. You can even take her Imposter Syndrome Quiz

• • The Perfectionist:

    • You feel like your work must be 100% perfect, 100% of the time
      You’re rarely satisfied because you believe you could’ve done even better

  • The Superwoman/man

    • You feel like you haven’t truly earned your title (despite numerous degrees and achievements), so you work harder and longer than those around you to prove your worth
    • You are addicted to the validation that comes from working hard and not to the work itself

  • The Natural Genius

    • You don’t just judge yourself based on ridiculous expectations, you judge yourself based on getting things right on the first try.
    • When you’re not able to do something quickly or fluently on the first time, you label yourself as incompetent.

  • The Soloist

    • You refuse assistance so you can prove your worth.
    • You don’t ask for help because you’re afraid others will see you being incompetent.

  • The Expert

    • You measure your competence based on “what” and “how much” you know or can do.
    • You believe you will never know enough, and you fear being exposed as inexperienced or unknowledgeable.

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