imposter syndrome
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imposter syndrome explained
Imposter Syndrome relates to beliefs that many highly accomplished people, particularly marginalized individuals, feel around their deservedness.
People with imposter syndrome might ...
Feel full of self-doubt (“I am not as smart as they think.”)
Fear being “found out” (“It’s only a matter of time before people realize I don’t belong here.”)
Have trouble acknowledging when they have accomplished something (“I don’t deserve to win this award.”)
Feel frustrated, like they cannot meet self-set standards (“I’ll never be as good as I want to be, so why bother trying?”)
Lack confidence and feel making mistakes (“I don’t think I have what it takes to be a scholar.”)
There are many reasons why people might feel this way. Academic spaces were not made with many people in mind and they can be highly competitive places. The constant push to acquire funding and publications can amplify feelings of anxiety and self-doubt, especially for BIPOC, women, queer, trans, disabled and working class people.
strategies for overcoming these feelings
If you feel this way, know you are not alone and that are many strategies for dealing with imposter syndrome.
Here are some suggestions from The University of Waterloo's Centre for Teaching Excellence ...
Break the silence
Speak out about your feelings. Knowing there is a name for these feelings and that other people suffer from them can be very reassuring.
Separate feelings from fact
Everyone feels stupid from time to time. Just because you feel it doesn’t mean you are.
Recognize when it’s normal to feel fraudulent
When something is new to you, you may feel like you don’t fit in. These feelings are natural response for any novice.
Accentuate the positive
Don’t obsess over everything. Do a great job when it is important, don’t persevere over routine tasks.
Develop a new response to failure and mistake making
Learn from your mistakes and move on. Don’t dwell on what has happened in the past.
Right the rules
Don’t feel like you always need to know the correct answer. Recognize that you have just as much right as the next person to make a mistake or ask for help.
Develop a new script
Rewrite your mental script from “I am an imposter” to “I may not know all the answers but I am smart enough to figure it out.”
Visualize success
Instead of thinking of worst case scenarios, imagine yourself conducting an excellent presentation or answering questions with the correct reply.
Reward yourself
Learn to pat yourself on the back when you deserve it. Don’t hide from validation!
Fake it ‘til you make it
Take a chance and “wing it;” this is not a sign of ineptness, but rather a sign that you are intelligent and able to rise to a challenge.
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